Question

Please Factor the following polynomial - first by greatest common factor followed by factoring the trinomial. Please describe your steps. A correct answer without steps will only partial credit.

2x^2 - 6x - 36

Answer 1

2x^2 - 6x - 36= 2*(x^2 - 3x -18)

Lets solve this now: x^2 - 3x -18=0
$x_{12} =(-b+- \sqrt{b^2 -4ac} )/2a= 3+- \sqrt{9+72} /2=(3+-9)/2=6$
or -3
x^2 - 3x -18=0
(x+3)(x-6)=0

So the solution is
2(x+3)(x-6)