Question

Resolve each of the following quadratic trinomials into factors:

2x² - 3x - 2

Answer 1

Here, coefficient of x² = 2, coefficient of x = - 3 and constant term = -2

We shall now split up the coefficient of x i.e., -3 into two parts whose sum is -3 and product is 2 x -2 = - 4

So, we write middle term -3x as -4x + x

Thus, we have

2x² - 3x – 2 = 2x² - 4x + x – 2 

= 2x (x – 2) + 1 (x – 2)

= (x – 2) (2x + 1)