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Factor completely 4x4 − 24x3 + 36x2.

A) 4x2(x − 3)2
B) 4(x − 3)2
C) 4x2(x + 3)(x − 3)
D) 4x(x2 − 6x + 9)

1 Answer

2 votes

The previous answer from another person got deleted, so I'm here to put it back in my own words.

(Edit: The answer is A)

First of all, you can take 4 out of each, so simplify everything by 4.

4(x^4 - 6x^3 + 9x^2)

Next, you can see that you're able to take out x^2

4x^2(x^2 - 6x + 9)

You can see that both x^2 and 9 are perfect squares, meaning you can crunch them together like this

(x+3)^2 or (x-3)^2

Of course, only one would work, and as fate has it, (x-3)^ produces x^2 - 6x + 9

This would turn the now factored equation into :

4x^2(x-3)^2 or 4x^2(x-3)(x-3), this means the answer is A

User Aeosynth
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