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23 votes
Write the fraction in simplest form.
12x^2/28x

2 Answers

6 votes
12x^2/28x in simplest form is 3x/7
User Andrew Moylan
by
8.1k points
11 votes

Answer: (-6x - 5) • (2x + 3)

Explanation:

((0 - (22•3x2)) - 28x) - 15

Pull out like factors :

-12x2 - 28x - 15 = -1 • (12x2 + 28x + 15)

Trying to factor by splitting the middle term

3.2 Factoring 12x2 + 28x + 15

The first term is, 12x2 its coefficient is 12 .

The middle term is, +28x its coefficient is 28 .

The last term, "the constant", is +15

Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 12 • 15 = 180

Step-2 : Find two factors of 180 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is 28 .

-180 + -1 = -181

-90 + -2 = -92

-60 + -3 = -63

-45 + -4 = -49

-36 + -5 = -41

-30 + -6 = -36

-20 + -9 = -29

-18 + -10 = -28

-15 + -12 = -27

-12 + -15 = -27

-10 + -18 = -28

-9 + -20 = -29

-6 + -30 = -36

-5 + -36 = -41

-4 + -45 = -49

-3 + -60 = -63

-2 + -90 = -92

-1 + -180 = -181

1 + 180 = 181

2 + 90 = 92

3 + 60 = 63

4 + 45 = 49

5 + 36 = 41

6 + 30 = 36

9 + 20 = 29

10 + 18 = 28 That's it

Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, 10 and 18

12x2 + 10x + 18x + 15

Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :

2x • (6x+5)

Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :

3 • (6x+5)

Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :

(2x+3) • (6x+5)

Which is the desired factorization

Answer: (-6x - 5) • (2x + 3)

User Aaronlhe
by
8.2k points