How do you factor 3x^2 - 6x?

1 Answer
Bill K.
Jul 31, 2015

3x(x-2)

Explanation:

The term 3x^2 can be thought of as 3x*x and the term 6x can be thought of as 3x*2. The 3x is therefore a common factor that can be factored out (reversing the distributive property), and keeping the minus sign in place: 3x^2-6x=3x(x-2).

This also implies that the roots (x-intercepts) of the function f(x)=3x^2-6x=3x(x-2) are x=0 and x=2.

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