Question

How do you factor this trinomial 4a^2-4a+1

Answer 1

`(2a-1)(2a-1)`

Explanation:

To write the factored form, multiply a*c from the standard form
`ax^2+bx+c`. Here it is 4*1 = 4.

Then find factors of 4 that add to b=-4.

4: 1,2,4

-2+-2 = -4

Split the middle term into -2x+-2x and factor by grouping.

`4a^2-2a+-2a+1\\(4a^2-2a)+(-2a+1)\\2a(2a-1)-1(2a-1)\\(2a-1)(2a-1)`