Final answer:
The student's question is about factoring a quadratic equation, but it lacks clarity as to whether the goal is to factor or to solve for the roots using the quadratic formula.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question involves factoring a quadratic equation of the form (3a-b)^2 - 3(3a-b)c - 40c^2. This requires finding two expressions that multiply together to give the original quadratic. The question provided references the quadratic formula, which suggests that the student might be trying to solve for the roots of the equation rather than factoring, possibly due to a typo. However, if factoring is the goal, it typically means rewriting the quadratic as a product of two binomials or recognizing a special pattern such as a difference of squares. Since the question provides a specific form but lacks clarity on whether to factor or solve the quadratic, further information or clarification from the student would be needed for a full resolution.