Question

How would one factor the following expression `-3x^2+ 5x - 2` ?

Answer 1

(x - 1)(2 - 3x)

Explanation:

f(x) = -3x^2 + 5x - 2
Since a + b + c = 0, use shortcut.
One real root is (x1 = 1) and the other is `(x2 = c/a) = (x2 = 2/3)`
We can write:
f(x) = a(x - x1)(x - x2)
`f(x) = -3(x - 1)( x - 2/3) = (x - 1)(- 3x + 2)`