How do you factor #6a^2 - 17a + 12#?

1 Answer

Your answer is #(2a -3) (3a - 4)#

Explanation:

#6a^2 -17a + 12 #

To solve this you have to multiply the range of the first and the last numbers so #6a^2 *12 # is # = 72a^2 #.

After finding this you have to make a list of factors for # 72a^2 # that when multiplied will give you #72a^2# and when added together will give you #-17a# .

1 and 72
2 and 36
3 and 24
4 and 18
6 and 12
8 and 9
Our values are #-9 and -8#
So we replace #17a# with them and your expression becomes
#6a^2 -8a -9a +12#. Now to start factorising

#=>2a(3a -4) -3(3a -4)#
#=>(2a-3)(3a -4)#