Answer:
Two solutions were found :
x = 6
x = -1
Step by step solution :
Step 1 :
Equation at the end of step 1 :
(3x2 - 15x) - 18 = 0
Step 2 :
Step 3 :
Pulling out like terms :
3.1 Pull out like factors :
3x2 - 15x - 18 = 3 • (x2 - 5x - 6)
Trying to factor by splitting the middle term
3.2 Factoring x2 - 5x - 6
The first term is, x2 its coefficient is 1 .
The middle term is, -5x its coefficient is -5 .
The last term, "the constant", is -6
Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 1 • -6 = -6
Step-2 : Find two factors of -6 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is -5 .
-6 + 1 = -5 That's it
Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -6 and 1
x2 - 6x + 1x - 6
Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
x • (x-6)
Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
1 • (x-6)
Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
(x+1) • (x-6)
Which is the desired factorization
Equation at the end of step 3 :
3 • (x + 1) • (x - 6) = 0
In Conclusion, the answer would be 0.