How do you factor #2x ^ { 2} - 5a x + 2a ^ { 2}#?

2 Answers
Jun 9, 2018

#2 x^2-5 a x+ 2 a^2 =(x-2 a)(2 x -a)#

Explanation:

#2 x^2-5 a x+ 2 a^2 = 2 x^2-4 a x - a x+ 2 a^2#

#= 2 x (x-2 a) - a( x- 2 a)#

# = (x-2 a)(2 x -a)# [Ans]

Jun 9, 2018

#=> (2x-a)(x-2a)#

Explanation:

#2x ^ { 2} - 5a x + 2a ^ { 2}#

Split the middle term coefficient (-5) in two such numbers (-4 and -1) so that we get their sum as the middle term and product (-4 x -1)as the product of first term and last term coefficients (2 x 2 =4) and rewrite:

#2x ^ { 2} - 4a x -1 ax + 2a ^ { 2}#

#=> 2x (x - 2a) -1a (x- 2a) #

#=> (2x-1a)(x-2a)#

So the factors are : #(2x-a) and (x-2a)#