Question

How do you factor `2x³+16x²+24x`?

Answer 1

Separate out the common factor `2x`, then find a pair of numbers whose sum is `8` and whose product is `12` to get:

`2x^3+16x^2+24x = 2x(x+2)(x+6)`

Explanation:

Notice that all of the terms are divisible by `2x`, so separate that factor out first, Then notice that `2+6 = 8` and `2xx6 = 12`, so:

`2x^3+16x^2+24x = 2x(x^2+8x+12) = 2x(x+2)(x+6)`