Which expression is the factored equivalent of 3x^2-4x+1?
A. (3x-1)(x-1)
B. (3x-1)(x+1)
C. (3x+1)(x-1)
D. (3x+1)(x+1)
When I factor it, I keep getting D. But I know the answer is A. So this must be a common mistake students make. What am I doing wrong?
Here is my work.
3x^2-4x+1
3x^2+3x+1x+1
(3x^2+3x)+(1x+1)
3x(x+1)+1(x+1)
(x+1)(3x+1)=(3x+1)(x+1)
2 answers
Oh wait, never mind. I know exactly what I did wrong.
On the second line where you put 3x^2+3x+1x+1 it should really be 3x^2-3x-1x+1
You just lost track of your negative
You just lost track of your negative