How do you factor $3a^2 - 6ab +2a - 4b$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2016-06-26T18:11:08

= $(3a +2)(a -2b)$

When there are 4 or more terms in an expression, group them.
Make sure there is a + sign between the groups.

$3a^2 - 6ab + 2a - 4b " can be grouped as"$ :

= $(3a^2 - 6ab) + (2a - 4b) " find a factor in each pair"$

= $3a(a - 2b) + 2(a - 2b) " there is a common bracket"$

= $(a - 2b)(3a + 2)$

OR:
$3a^2 - 6ab + 2a - 4b " can be grouped as"$ :

$(3a^2 + 2a) + (- 6ab - 4b)$ :

Taking out different factors will still give the same answer as the first method. NOte that the signs in the second term will change.

$(3a^2+2a) + (- 6ab - 4b)$

= $a(3a +2) -2b(3a +2)$

= $(3a +2)(a -2b)$

How do you factor 3a^2 - 6ab +2a - 4b 3a^2 - 6ab +2a - 4b?