View Full Version : Algebra 1 stuff
michelleday
Mar 6, 2007, 02:48 PM
my friend asked me to answer this question
but I don't know how to do it... can you help?
I need to factor 4x² - 4x + 1
Curlyben
Mar 6, 2007, 02:51 PM
Please refer to THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/math-sciences/announcement-u-b-read-first-expectations-homework-help-board-b-u.html)
gsbstyle
Mar 6, 2007, 04:42 PM
Certainly. It is (2x-1)(2x-1). If you multiply these two expressions together to check your math, the answer is 4x² - 4x + 1
cool_dude
Mar 6, 2007, 05:45 PM
Certainly. It is (2x-1)(2x-1). If you multiply these two expressions together to check your math, the answer is 4x² - 4x + 1
Don't just give out the answer when curlyben posts to read the rules! If your already going to give out the answer than at least explain how you got it.
michelleday
Mar 6, 2007, 06:01 PM
Its not a homework question...
So he is allowed to just give me the
Answer..
cool_dude
Mar 6, 2007, 06:22 PM
its not a homework question....
so he is allowed to just give me the
answer..
Even if its not a homework question he still should have at least explained how he did it. Plus "Not a homework question" hahaha. Let me guess your finding factors for fun right. Or you need to use them to figure out how much fence you will need lol.
galactus
Mar 6, 2007, 06:47 PM
4x^{2}-4x+1
What two numbers when multiplied equal 4 and when added equal -4.
-2 and -2. (-2)(-2)=4 and -2+(-2)=-4
4x^{2}-2x-2x+1
Group:
(4x^{2}-2x)-(2x-1)
Common factors:
2x(2x-1)-(2x-1)
Factor:
(2x-1)^{2}
cool_dude
Mar 6, 2007, 07:05 PM
another way would be
4x^2 - 4x + 1
what 2 numbers multiply to 4 and add to -4?
-2 x -2 = 4 and -2 + -2 = -4
now we do a/f1 and a/f2 (don't get scared I'll explain what this means)
a is the coeficient before x^2. in this case it is 4. f1 is the first number you got from the previous step and f2 is the second number. So it will look like this
4/-2 = 2/-1
4/-2 = 2/-1
now just place the number in your brackets so
(2x-1)(2x-1)
this reduces to
(2x-1)^2