Question

Part A: Factor 2x^2b^2 + 5xb^2 + 2b^2. Show your work.

Part B: Factor x^2 − 8x + 16. Show your work.

Part C: Factor x^2 − 49. Show your work.

Answer 1

The first one is the only that might give you some trouble. The first thing you do is factor out the
`b^(2)`:

`b^(2) (2 x^(2) +5x+2)`
and then you have to factor the rest using the quadratic formula. The whole thing factored looks like this, then:

`b^(2) (x+ (1)/(2))(x+2)`
The second one can be factored straight out:
(x-4)(x-4)
Then the third one can be factored by taking roots. Recognize that
`x^(2)` is a perfect square and so is 49:

`x^(2) =49`
and taking the square root of both sides gives you this:
x = +/- 7