Math Help - polynomial

1. polynomial

Need help with Factoring a polynomial please.
3x^2+7x+2, my answer (3x+1)(2x+1) but I'm not sure it could be (3x+1)(x+2). thanks for taking time to look it over.

2. Originally Posted by wayne
Need help with Factoring a polynomial please.
3x^2+7x+2, my answer (3x+1)(2x+1) but I'm not sure it could be (3x+1)(x+2). thanks for taking time to look it over.
Hello,

use completing the square to factor this sum:

$3x^2+7x+2 = 3\left(x^2 + \frac{7}{3}x+\frac{2}{3} \right)$ = $3\left( \left(x^2 + \frac{7}{3}x+\frac{49}{36}\right) - \frac{49}{36} +\frac{2}{3} \right) = 3\left( \left(x + \frac{7}{6}\right)^2 - \frac{25}{36} \right)$ = $3\left( \left(x + \frac{7}{6}\right)^2 - \left(\frac{5}{6} \right)^2 \right)$

As you can see you've got a difference of squares which can be factored easily:

$3\left( \left(x + \frac{7}{6}\right)^2 - \left(\frac{5}{6} \right)^2 \right) = 3\left( x + \frac{7}{6}+ \frac{5}{6} \right) \left( x + \frac{7}{6} - \frac{5}{6} \right)$

Collect the fractions and multiply the 2nd bracket by the factor 3:

$(x+2)(3x+1)$

A personal remark: I know there exist formulae which will give you the result directly and immediately. But they use the way I've demonstrated too - you only can't see it at once.

3. thanks

What I thought first was right, thanks for checking.

4. thanks

What I thought first was wrong, thanks for checking.