How do you factor 4x²-10x+6?

It will require a little perseverance:

1. Since the middle term is minus and the last term is positive, this means that the two factors must be of the form (ax-b)*(cx-d); that is, there's a minus sign in each. Do you see why?

2. The middle term, -10, comes from ad+bc. So now the trick is to look at the possible values for a, b, c, and d that satisfy this. First, 4=ac, so a and c can be either 4 and 1 (in either order) or 2 and 2. Second, 6=bd, so b and d can be either 6 and 1 or 2 and 3 (in either order). So now it's a matter of trying all these combinations and finding one that works. There is one, so keep at it! Post back if you're still having trouble.

(x+y)^2-64

how do I factor (x+y)^2-64

You should have started another thread, mrsu...

Ok, look at it carefully, you have the difference of two perfect squares, right?

Well you should know that a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)

Use that to solve your problem. :)

(x+y-8)*(x+y+8) difference of squares

let a=x+y & b=8

a^2-b^2=(a-b)*(a+b)

It will require a little perseverance:

1. Since the middle term is minus and the last term is positive, this means that the two factors must be of the form (ax-b)*(cx-d); that is, there's a minus sign in each. Do you see why?

2. The middle term, -10, comes from ad+bc. So now the trick is to look at the possible values for a, b, c, and d that satisfy this. First, 4=ac, so a and c can be either 4 and 1 (in either order) or 2 and 2. Second, 6=bd, so b and d can be either 6 and 1 or 2 and 3 (in either order). So now it's a matter of trying all these combinations and finding one that works. There is one, so keep at it! Post back if you're still having trouble.

x=1 or x-1.5

x=1 or x=1.5