How do you solve #3x^2+11x-4=0# by factoring?

1 Answer
Mar 31, 2015

#3x^2 + 11x -4=0#

#ax^2 +bx +c=0#

Multiply #ac# to get #-12#

find factors the multiply to get #-12# and add to get the coefficient of the middle term #+11#

Because we want #-12#, one factor is negative and the other is positive. Because we want the sum to be #+11#, the factor with greater absolute value is the positive factor:

List:
#-1xx12# sum #-1+12 = 11# STOP!, that's the one we want.

Now write the quadratic, replacing the middle term #11x# withe the two numbers we just found: #-x+12x#

#3x^2-x+12x-4 = 0# Factor by grouping:

#(3x^2-x)+(12x-4) = 0#

#x(3x-1)+4(3x-1) = 0#

#(x+4)(3x-1)=0#

#x+4=0# or #3x-1 = 0#

#x= -4# or #x= 1/3#

The solutions are #-4# and #1/3#