How do you factor the trinomial #2x^2 - x - 3#?

1 Answer
George C.
Dec 19, 2015

Split the middle term then factor by grouping to find:

#2x^2-x-3 =(2x-3)(x+1)#

Explanation:

Ignoring signs, notice that the coefficient of the middle term is the difference of the two other coefficients. Hence we can split it as follows then factor by grouping:

#2x^2-x-3#

#= 2x^2+2x-3x-3#

#=(2x^2+2x)-(3x+3)#

#=2x(x+1)-3(x+1)#

#=(2x-3)(x+1)#

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