Q 106.

Question

Factor Trinomials of the Form ax2+bx+c Using Trial and Error.

6u2+5uv14v2

Step-by-Step Solution

Verified
Answer

The solution is (u+2v)(6u-7v).

1Step 1. Given information

Consider the trinomial.

6u2+5uv14v2

2Step 2. Write the trinomial in descending order and then find greatest common factor.

The trinomial 6u2+5uv14v2 is given in descending order.

There is no greatest common factor.

3Step 3. Find the factors of the first term and the last term.

The first term of the given trinomial is 6u2.

So, the factors of 6u2 are as follows:

6u2=u·6u6u2=2u·3u


The last term of the given trinomial is -14v2.

Since the last term of the given polynomial is negative, the factors of the last term will have opposite signs.

The factors of -14v2 are as follows:

-14v2=(-v)·(14v)-14v2=v·(-14v)-14v2=(-2v)·7v-14v2=2v·(-7v)

4Step 4. Make a table for all the combination of factors of 6 u 2 + 5 u v − 14 v 2 .

If the trinomial has no common factors, none of the factors can contain the common factors.

This follows that the combination of the factors is not an option.


The table is shown below:

Possible factorsProduct
(u-v)(6u+14v)
Not an option
(u+14v)(6u-v)
6u2+83uv-14v2
(u+v)(6u-14v)
Not an option
(u-14v)(6u+v)
6u2-83uv-14v2
(u-2v)(6u+7v)
6u2-5uv-14v2
(u+7v)(6u-2v)
Not an option
(u+2v)(6u-7v)
6u2+5uv-14v2
(u-7v)(6u+2v)
Not an option
(2u-v)(3u+14v)
6u2+25uv-14v2
(2u+14v)(3u-v)
Not an option
(2u+v)(3u-14v)
6u2-25uv-14v2
(2u-14v)(3u+v)
Not an option
(2u-2v)(3u+7v)
Not an option
(2u+7v)(3u-2v)
6u2+17uv-14v2
(2u+2v)(3u-7v)
Not an option
(2u-7v)(3u+2v)
6u2-17uv-14v2


From the table, conclude that the combination (u+2v)(6u-7v) is correct.    

5Step 5. Check by multiplying ( u + 2 v ) ( 6 u - 7 v ) .

(u+2v)(6u-7v)=6u2-7uv+12uv-14v2=6u2+15uv-14v2

Hence, the factor is (u+2v)(6u-7v).