Question

How do you factor `-36h ^ { 2} - 48h k - 15k ^ { 2}`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

Because there is an `h^2` and `k^` on each end of the expression and an `hk` term in the middle we know the factor must have the form:

`(ah + bk)(ch + dk)`

To find `a`, `b`, `c` and `d` we need to play with factors of `-36` and `-15`. This gives:

`(-6h - 3k)(6h + 5k)`