How do you factor 6m ^ { 3} - 18m ^ { 2} - 240m?

2 Answers
May 2, 2018

6m(m-8)(m+5)

Explanation:

"take out a "color(blue)"common factor "6m

=6m(m^2-3m-40)

"the factors of - 40 which sum to - 3 are - 8 and + 5"

=6m(m-8)(m+5)

May 2, 2018

(6m)(m-8)(m+5)

Explanation:

First, notice all terms have m, so that can be factored out:
6m^3-18m^2-240m
=m(6m^2-18m-240)
6, 18, and 240 These numbers' GCF is 6, so we can factor that out aswell:
=6m(m^2-3m-40) Now we can factor the parentheses:
m^2-3m-40
Factors of 40:
1,40
2,20
4,10
5,8
5 and 8 can be subtracted to get -3, so these are the factors:
(m-8)(m+5) Putting it in the entire expression:
(6m)(m-8)(m+5)