Question

Factor each polynomial. 6a²-50ab+16b²

Answer 1

`(3a-b)(a-8b)`

Explanation:

`6a^(2) -50ab+16b^2\\\\=2(3a^2-25ab+8b^2)`

here we need to pause, 3a^2 we can factorize it as (3a)(a)

so generally

`(3a+x)(a+y)\\\\=3a^(2) +3ay+ax+xy\\\\=3a^2+a(3y+x)+xy`

so 3y+x=-25b

an xy=8b^2

if y=-8b

and x=-b

(this is guesswork)

so it gets

`(3a-b)(a-8b)`