Check out some similar questions!

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

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

Originally Posted by gsbstyle

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

Originally Posted by michelleday

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