Question

How do you factor the expression $3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4$?

Answer 1

Apply the middle term split method to factorize $3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4$. Split 4x into two terms in such a way that their sum is 4x and the product is $-12{{x}^{2}}$. For this process, find the prime factors of 12 and combine them in such a way so that the conditions are satisfied. Finally, take the common terms together and write $3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4$, where ‘a’ and ‘b’ are called zeroes of the polynomial.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Here, we have been asked to factorize the quadratic polynomial $3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4$.
Let us use the middle term split method for the factorization. It states that we have to split middle term which is 4x into two terms such that their sum is 4x and the product is equal to the product of constant term (-4) and $3{{x}^{2}}$, i.e., $-12{{x}^{2}}$. To do this, first we need to find all the prime factors of 12. So, let us find.
We know that 12 can be written as: - $12=2\times 2\times 3$ as the product of its primes. Now, we have to group these factors such that our conditions of the middle terms split method are satisfied. So, we have,
(i) $\left( 6x \right)+\left( -2x \right)=4x$
(ii) $\left( 6x \right)\times \left( -2x \right)=-12{{x}^{2}}$
Hence, both the conditions of the middle term split method are satisfied. So, the quadratic polynomial can be written as: -

& \Rightarrow 3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4=3{{x}^{2}}+6x-2x-4 \\\ & \Rightarrow 3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4=3x\left( x+2 \right)-2\left( x+2 \right) \\\ \end{aligned}$$ Taking $$\left( x+2 \right)$$ common in the R.H.S., we get, $$\Rightarrow 3{{x}^{2}}+4x-4=\left( x+2 \right)\left( 3x-2 \right)$$ **Hence, $$\left( x+2 \right)\left( 3x-2 \right)$$ is the factored form of the given quadratic polynomial.** **Note:** One may note that we can use another method for the factorization. The Discriminant method can also be applied to solve the question. What we will do is we will find the solution of the quadratic equation using discriminant method. The values of x obtained will be assumed as x = a and x = b. Finally, we will consider the product $$\left( x-a \right)\left( x-b \right)$$ to get the factored form.