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Factor out the GCF.
6x²-3x - 18

Factor completely and show/explain each step.

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer:

3(x - 2)(2x + 3)

Explanation:

6x² - 3x - 18 ← factor out GCF of 3 from each term

= 3(2x² - x - 6) ← factor the quadratic

consider the factors of the product of the coefficient of the x² term and the constant term which sum to give the coefficient of the x- term

product = 2 × - 6 = - 12 and sum = - 1

the factors are - 4 and + 3

use these factors to split the x- term

2x² - 4x + 3x - 6 ( factor the first/second and third/fourth terms )

= 2x(x - 2) + 3(x - 2) ← factor out (x - 2) from each term

= (x - 2)(2x + 3) ← in factored form

then

6x² - 3x - 18 = 3(x - 2)(2x + 3)

User Hal Mueller
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