257,436 views
38 votes
38 votes
Which of the following is a factor of the expression 4x^2-2x-42?

Group of answer choices

2x-6

2x-7

x-3

4x-7

User Vidarious
by
3.1k points

2 Answers

12 votes
12 votes

Answer:


4x ^(2) - 2x - 42 \\ 2(2 {x}^(2) - x - 21) \\ 2(2 {x}^(2) + 6x - 7x - 21) \\ 2(2x(x + 3) - 7(x + 3) \\ 2(2x - 7)(x + 3)

User Aecolley
by
2.8k points
13 votes
13 votes

Answer:

2x - 7

Explanation:

4x² - 2x - 42 ( factor out 2 from each term )

= 2(2x² - x - 21) ← factor the quadratic

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

product = 2 × - 21 = - 42 and sum = - 1

the factors are+ 6 and - 7

use these factors to split the x- term

2x² + 6x - 7x - 21 ( factor the first/second and third/fourth terms )

= 2x(x + 3) - 7(x + 3) ← factor out (x + 3) from each term

= (x + 3)(2x - 7)

then

4x² - 2x - 42 = 2(x + 3)(2x - 7) ← in factored form

with 2x - 7 as a factor

User Hariharbalaji
by
3.1k points