Question

What is the factored form of 25x2 – 20x + 4?

A. (5x – 2)2
B. (5x + 2)2
O C. (5x + 1)(5x – 4)
D. (5x + 2)(5.x - 2)

Answer 1

Explanation:

This factors using a perfect square trinomial. You can recognize this by several characteristics. First off, the leading coefficient is a perfect square (25); second, the constant is also a perfect square (4). Third, the second sign is a + which means that both the signs inside the parenthesis are the same and they are both whatever the first sign is, - . Factoring this then, is the (square root of the leading coefficient times x - square root of the constant):

(5x - 2)(5x - 2) which simplifies down to

`(5x-2)^2`, choice A.