CHOOSE ANY BLOCK AND FACTORISE 2x² + 7x +3 2x² – 12x + 10 1) 2x² + 5x + 2 3x² + 23x + 14 3x² – 7x + 2 2) 2x² + 11x + 12 2x² + 14x + 20 3x² + 8x – 3 3) 6x² + 7x + 2 5x² + 29x + 36 3x² – 5x – 2 4) 3x² – 7x + 2
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Of the blocks provided, the third block is selected for factorization. This block contains four quadratic trinomials of the form ax² + bx + c.
Introduction to Factorising Quadratic Trinomials
Factorising a quadratic trinomial is the process of expressing it as a product of two linear binomials. The most common method for trinomials where the leading coefficient ‘a’ is not 1 is the ‘ac method’, also known as factoring by grouping or splitting the middle term.
The procedure involves these steps:
- Identify the coefficients a, b, and c in the expression ax² + bx + c.
- Calculate the product of a and c (ac).
- Find two numbers that multiply to give the value ‘ac’ and add to give the value ‘b’.
- Rewrite the middle term ‘bx’ as the sum of two terms using the numbers found in the previous step.
- Factor the resulting four-term polynomial by grouping the terms into two pairs and extracting the common factors.
Solutions for Block 3
1) Factorise 2x² + 5x + 2
- Here, a = 2, b = 5, and c = 2.
- The product ac = 2 × 2 = 4.
- Two numbers that multiply to 4 and add to 5 are 4 and 1.
- Rewrite the expression: 2x² + 4x + 1x + 2
- Factor by grouping: (2x² + 4x) + (x + 2) = 2x(x + 2) + 1(x + 2)
- The factored form is (2x + 1)(x + 2).
2) Factorise 2x² + 11x + 12
- Here, a = 2, b = 11, and c = 12.
- The product ac = 2 × 12 = 24.
- Two numbers that multiply to 24 and add to 11 are 8 and 3.
- Rewrite the expression: 2x² + 8x + 3x + 12
- Factor by grouping: (2x² + 8x) + (3x + 12) = 2x(x + 4) + 3(x + 4)
- The factored form is (2x + 3)(x + 4).
3) Factorise 6x² + 7x + 2
- Here, a = 6, b = 7, and c = 2.
- The product ac = 6 × 2 = 12.
- Two numbers that multiply to 12 and add to 7 are 4 and 3.
- Rewrite the expression: 6x² + 4x + 3x + 2
- Factor by grouping: (6x² + 4x) + (3x + 2) = 2x(3x + 2) + 1(3x + 2)
- The factored form is (2x + 1)(3x + 2).
4) Factorise 3x² – 7x + 2
- Here, a = 3, b = -7, and c = 2.
- The product ac = 3 × 2 = 6.
- Two numbers that multiply to 6 and add to -7 are -6 and -1.
- Rewrite the expression: 3x² – 6x – 1x + 2
- Factor by grouping: (3x² – 6x) – (x – 2) = 3x(x – 2) – 1(x – 2)
- The factored form is (3x – 1)(x – 2).
