Neet learning introductory algebra here, currently reading about factoring trinomials into a product of 2 binomials using the form x^2+bx+c. Stuck on this question currently.
My thought process:
1. Find GCF which is -3 to make the leading coefficient have a positive sign.
2. Result is -3(a^2 - 5ab + 4b^2). Now need to find a factorization whose product is 4b^2 and adds to -5ab. Well, -4b and -b multiply to equal 4b^2 but they add to -5b, where the fuck does the a factor come from in -5ab?
That's actually the answer: -3(a-4b)(a-b) according to the appendix but I still don't know why this works because there's no a being added.
My thought process:
1. Find GCF which is -3 to make the leading coefficient have a positive sign.
2. Result is -3(a^2 - 5ab + 4b^2). Now need to find a factorization whose product is 4b^2 and adds to -5ab. Well, -4b and -b multiply to equal 4b^2 but they add to -5b, where the fuck does the a factor come from in -5ab?
That's actually the answer: -3(a-4b)(a-b) according to the appendix but I still don't know why this works because there's no a being added.
