What is the factors for (3x² + 4x + 1)?

1 Answer
May 1, 2015

Check for integer solutions first:
Can we find pairs one from each of the sets of factors for 3 and 1 such that the sum of the products of the pairs equals 4?

3 =color(red)(3)xxcolor(red)(1)
1 = color(blue)(1)xxcolor(blue)(1)
(color(red)(3)xxcolor(blue)(1))+(color(red)(1)xxcolor(blue)(1)) = 4

So
(3x^2+4x+1)

= (color(red)(3)x+color(blue)(1))*(color(red)(1)x+color(blue)(1))