Factor:
2x^2 +13x-6
Please give step by step directions. I have tried doing it, but I can't get the right numbers.
Thanks!
You know the factors will be among
(2x+?)(x-?)
(2x-?)(x+?)
where the ? can be 2,3 or 1,6
Now you just have to play around till you find what works.
That 13 in the middle is a good indicator that 1,6 will be involved, since it is so big. Now recall that 13 =12+1, so I expect the 6 and 2 will be paired up.
(2x-1)(x+6) = 2x^2+11x-6
Hmmm. Guess not. Maybe it's not so easy.
The discriminant is
b^2-4ac = 169+48 = 217
Whoa! That is not a perfect square, so your quadratic does not factor over the rational numbers. I suspect a typo.
(2x+1)(x+6) = 2x^2+13x+6
Is that better?