Question #ec66c

2 Answers
Oct 26, 2016

On #R# you can't.

Explanation:

If you can write it as product of 1 degree factors it should be
#P(x)=a(x-x_1)(x-x_2)#
where #x_1# and #x_2# are roots of #P(x)#, but if you try to solve the second degrre equation you will find
#Delta/4=8^2-3*24=-8<0#
so there are no roots on #R#.

Oct 26, 2016

Complete the square or use the quadratic formula to find the roots, then find the factors.

Explanation:

#3x^2-16x+24 = 0# has solutions

#x = (8+-2sqrt2i)/3#

So

#x-(8+2sqrt2i)/3#, and #x-(8-2sqrt2i)/3# are factors of the quadratic.

In order to get leading coefficient #3#, we need a constant factor of #3#.

So

#3x^2-16x+24 = 3(x-(8+2sqrt2i)/3)(x-(8-2sqrt2i)/3)#

If you want strict standard for for the imaginaries, write

#3x^2-16x+24 = 3(x-(8/3+(2sqrt2)/3i))(x-(8/3-(2sqrt2)/3i))#