How do you factor the expression #3x^2+4x-4#?

1 Answer
Mar 1, 2016

# (3x-2)(x+2) # is the factorised form of the equation.

Explanation:

#3x^2 +4x-4#

We can Split the Middle Term of this expression to factorise it.

In this technique, if we have to factorise an expression like #ax^2 + bx + c#, we need to think of 2 numbers such that:

#N_1*N_2 = a*c = 3*-4 = -12#
AND
#N_1 +N_2 = b = 4#

After trying out a few numbers we get #N_1 = 6# and #N_2 =-2#

#6*-2 = -12#, and #6+(-2)= 4#

#3x^2 +4x-4 =3x^2 +6x-2x-4#

# = 3x(x+2) - 2(x+2)#

# = (3x-2)(x+2) #

# (3x-2)(x+2) # is the factorised form of the equation.