how would you factor 5x^2+x-3x-3
because I got
x(5x-1) -3(x-1)
which doesn't work. Please help.
thats 5x^2-2x-3
and then simplify
To check:
(5x+3)(x-1)
As Chae indicates, you need to combine like terms before factoring.
To factor the expression 5x^2 + x - 3x - 3, you can use the method of grouping. Let's go through the process step by step:
Step 1: Group the terms
Split the middle terms into two groups:
(5x^2 + x) + (-3x - 3)
Step 2: Factor out the common factors in each group
Now, factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group:
x(5x + 1) - 3( x + 1)
Step 3: Check if there are any common factors left to factor out
In this case, there are no remaining common factors.
Step 4: Combine the factored groups
Now, combine the factored groups together:
x(5x + 1) - 3(x + 1)
At this point, it seems like you made a minor mistake in your attempt. You factored out -3 instead of -1 in the second term. The correct factored form is:
x(5x + 1) - 1( x + 1)
So, the fully factored expression is:
(5x + 1)(x + 1)