How to factor 2x^2+3x+1=02x2+3x+1=0 ?

1 Answer
Dec 11, 2017

(2x+1)(x+1) = 0 (2x+1)(x+1)=0
=> x = -1/2 , x= -1 x=12,x=1

Explanation:

To solve this we must understand how to factor:

if y = ax^2 + bx + c y=ax2+bx+c

Then you need to find two numbers who sum to make bb but multiply to make a*cac

So in this circumstance:

Plus to make 33 and multiply to make 2*1 = 2 21=2

Pairs of numbers who multiply to make 22:

( 2 , 1) , (-2 ,-1 ) (2,1),(2,1)

But out of these we see that (2,1) (2,1) also plus to make 33

So we can use the fact that 2x + x = 3x2x+x=3x :

=> 2x^2 + 2x + x +1 2x2+2x+x+1

Now we can factor the first 2 and last 2 terms individually, but ensuring they both have the same factor:

=> 2x(x+1 ) + (x+1) 2x(x+1)+(x+1)

Factoring out the (x+1) (x+1) :

=> (x+1)[2x + 1 ] (x+1)[2x+1]

=> (x+1)(2x+1) (x+1)(2x+1)

If we want to solve for 00 then either one of (x+1) or (2x+1) (x+1)or(2x+1) must equal 00 and alpha*0 = 0 α0=0

So hence (x+1) = 0 => x = -1 (x+1)=0x=1

Also (2x+1) = 0 => 2x = -1 => x = -1/2(2x+1)=02x=1x=12