How do you factor the trinomial #x^2 + 3x + 2 #?

2 Answers
May 25, 2018

#(x+1)(x+2)#

Explanation:

#"the factors of + 2 which sum to + 3 are + 1 and + 2"#

#x^2+3x+2=(x+1)(x+2)#

May 25, 2018

#(x+2)(x+1)#

Explanation:

Factor by grouping.

For a polynomial of the form #a^2+bx+c#
, rewrite the middle term as a sum of two terms whose product is
#a⋅c# = #1 xx 2=2# and whose sum is #b=3#

Factor #3# out of #3x#.
#x^2+3x+2#

Re-write #3# as sum of #2# plus #1#

#x^2+(2x+1x)+2#

Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.

#x(x+2)+1(x+2)#

Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor,#(x+2)#

#(x+2)(x+1)#
.