Algebra: Chapter 6, Lesson 5, page 278.
Factoring `ax^2 + bx + c`
Using the BOX METHOD OF FACTORING will make your job much easier with trinomials that have coefficients in front of the `x^2`, TRUST ME!
If you want to do it the traditional way (I’m not sure why), the following will help too:
To factor `ax^2 + bx + c`, we look for binomials that look like this with the _ signifying the values we are trying to find
`( _x + _ ) ( _x + _ )`
where products of numbers in the blanks are as follows:
- The numbers in the FIRST blanks of each binomial have product `a`.
- The numbers in the LAST blanks of each binomial have product `c`.
- The OUTSIDE product and the INSIDE product have a sum of `b`.
We do the same thing when we use the BOX METHOD and the X product and sum thingy! DO IT THAT WAY, SAVE YOURSELF SO GRIEF. THIS STUFF IS HARD!!
The BOX METHOD is linked here, all you need is a computer with sound.