What is the factored form of y= -2x^2+2x+2?

1 Answer
Nov 11, 2016

y = -2(x-1/2 - sqrt(5)/2)(x-1/2 + sqrt(5)/2)

Explanation:

Separate out the scalar factor -2, complete the square, then use the difference of squares identity.

The difference of squares identity can be written:

a^2-b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)

We use this with a=(x-1/2) and b=sqrt(5)/2 as follows:

y = -2x^2+2x+2

color(white)(y) = -2(x^2-x-1)

color(white)(y) = -2(x^2-x+1/4 - 5/4)

color(white)(y) = -2((x-1/2)^2 - (sqrt(5)/2)^2)

color(white)(y) = -2((x-1/2) - sqrt(5)/2)((x-1/2) + sqrt(5)/2)

color(white)(y) = -2(x-1/2 - sqrt(5)/2)(x-1/2 + sqrt(5)/2)