How do you factor #2b^3+3b^2-8b-12# by grouping?

1 Answer
purpleskying
Feb 9, 2017

#(2b+3)(b+2)(b-2)#

Explanation:

  1. If you try to find a connection between 2, 3, 8 and 12. You will find that 2 is the common factor of 2 and 8; 3 is the common factor or 3 and 12.

2.So try group them like above and you will get: #2b(b^2-4)+3(b^2-4)#

  1. And here comes the answer: #(2b+3)(b^2-4)#

  2. You can further break #(b^2-4)# into #(b+2)(b-2)#

  3. The final result is : #(2b+3)(b+2)(b-2)#

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