How do you factor the expression 3x2+12x+12=0?

2 Answers
Feb 16, 2016

3x2+12x+12=03(x+2)2=0

Explanation:

3x2+12x+12
XXX=3(x2+4x+4)
XXX=3(x+2)2

Feb 16, 2016

x=2

Explanation:

To factor the expression in general form ax2+bx+c=0, one has to identify factors of ac, whose sum is b.

In 3x2+12x+12=0, ac=36 and b=12, so factors of 36 whose sum is 12 are 6 and 6. Hence 3x2+12x+12=0 can be expressed as

3x2+6x+6x+12=0 i.e.

3x(x+2)+6(x+2))=0 or

(3x+6)(x+2)=0 i.e.

either (3x+6)=0 or (x+2)=0

i.e. x=63=2or2 and as they are same we have a unique solution x=2