Factor -24x² - 52x + 20

Here we will show you how to factor the quadratic function -24x² - 52x + 20 using the box method. In other words, we will show you how to factor negative 24x squared minus 52x plus 20 (-24x^2 - 52x + 20) using the box method. It is a 5-step process:

Step 1: The standard form of a quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c. In this equation, a is negative. Therefore, we need to start by setting aside the negative (-). We do this by flipping the signs in the equation to get 24x² + 52x - 20. Now we can label the different parts of our equation, like this:

a = 24
b = 52
c = -20

Step 2: Next, we need to draw a box and divide it into four squares:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

We put 24x² (a) in the bottom left square and -20 (c) in the top right square, like this:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

Step 3: In order to fill in the other two squares, we need to do some math. We have to find two numbers that multiply together to give us the product of 24 times -20 (a × c), and add together to equal 52 (b).

More specifically, 24 times -20 is -480. Therefore, we need to find the two numbers that multiply to equal -480, and add to equal 52.

? × ? = -480
? + ? = 52

After looking at this problem, we can see that the two numbers that multiply together to equal -480, and add together to equal 52, are -8 and 60, as illustrated here:

-8 × 60 = -480
-8 + 60 = 52

Now, we can fill in the last two squares in our box with -8x and 60x. Place -8x in the upper left square, and place 60x in the lower right square.

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

Step 4: Next, we need to find four final numbers to finish factoring our equation. We can see that our box is a 2 x 2 table made up of rows and columns.

Our goal is to find the numbers that, when multiplied together, result in the products in each square. We can do this by finding the greatest common factor in each row.

Let’s look at the top row. We have the terms -8x and -20. The greatest common factor of -8x and -20 is -4. Therefore, we write -4 to the left of the top row. You can see it here in the color green:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

Next, let’s look at the bottom row. We have the terms 24x² and 60x. The greatest common factor of 24x² and 60x is 12x. Therefore, we write 12x to the left of the bottom row. You can see it here in the color blue:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

To find the values below the table, we first divide 24x² by 12x (labeled in blue). This gives us 2x.

24x² ÷ 12x = 2x

You can see this value colored in orange below:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

Next, we divide 60x by 12x (labeled in blue). This gives us 5.

60x ÷ 12x = 5

You can see this value colored in purple below:

-4	-8x	-20
12x	24x²	60x
	2x	5

Step 5: Now we have all of the information we need to finish factoring the equation. The values outside of the box are used to factor -24x² - 52x + 20. You simply put the values on the left in one set of parentheses, and the values below in another set of parentheses, to get:

(12x - 4)(2x + 5)

In our original quadratic equation, -24x² - 52x + 20, a is negative. Therefore, we need to add a negative (-) sign before our two sets of parentheses, like this:

-(12x - 4)(2x + 5)

That’s it! Now you know how to factor the equation -24x² - 52x + 20.

Factoring Quadratics
Go here if you want to learn how to factor another quadratic function.

Factor -24x² - 52x + 32
Here is the next quadratic function on our list that we have factored for you.