Question

Please Factor the following polynomial - first by greatest common factor followed by factoring the trinomial. Please describe your steps. A correct answer without steps will only partial credit.

2x^2 - 6x - 36

Answer 1

2x^2 - 6x - 36= 2*(x^2 - 3x -18)

Lets solve this now: x^2 - 3x -18=0

`x_(12) =(-b+- √(b^2 -4ac) )/2a= 3+- √(9+72) /2=(3+-9)/2=6`
or -3
x^2 - 3x -18=0
(x+3)(x-6)=0

So the solution is
2(x+3)(x-6)