Question

How do you factor the trinomial `49x^2-21x+2`?

Answer 1

`(7x-1)(7x-2)`

Explanation:

You have a square number, 49 as your `x^2` coefficient. Therefore your factors within your parentheses are both going to start with `7x` Your centre term has a negative coefficient and your last term is a positive. This indicates that the signs inside will both be negative. Lastly, negative 1 multiplied by negative 2 gives you `+2`

If you expand it as a check, you should get back to your original trinomial.