How do you factor #3y²-y+9y-3#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-05-19T04:20:33

Find the common factor in the first 2 terms that is the same as the second 2 terms, and arrive at #(3y-1)(y+3)#

This problem is an a form where the first 2 terms and the second 2 terms have a common factor, so let's take advantage of that.

Start with:

#3y^2-y+9y-3#

Let's factor out a #y# from the first 2 terms and a 3 from the second two terms (you'll learn to recognize these patterns with practice):

#y(3y-1)+3(3y-1)#

We can take the common factor and factor it out, like this:

#(3y-1)(y+3)#