Factor 21x² - 88x + 92

Here we will show you how to factor the quadratic function 21x² - 88x + 92 using the box method. In other words, we will show you how to factor 21x squared minus 88x plus 92 (21x^2 - 88x + 92) using the box method. It is a 5-step process:

Step 1: The standard form of a quadratic equation is ax² + bx + c. We start by labeling the different parts of our equation 21x² - 88x + 92, like this:

a = 21
b = -88
c = 92

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

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

We put 21x² (a) in the bottom left square and 92 (c) in the top right square, like this:

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

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 21 times 92 (a × c), and add together to equal -88 (b).

More specifically, 21 times 92 is 1932. Therefore, we need to find the two numbers that multiply to equal 1932, and add to equal -88.

? × ? = 1932
? + ? = -88

After looking at this problem, we can see that the two numbers that multiply together to equal 1932, and add together to equal -88, are -46 and -42, as illustrated here:

-46 × -42 = 1932
-46 + -42 = -88

Now, we can fill in the last two squares in our box with -46x and -42x. Place -46x in the upper left square, and place -42x in the lower right square.

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

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 -46x and 92. The greatest common factor of -46x and 92 is -46. Therefore, we write -46 to the left of the top row. You can see it here in the color green:

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

Next, let’s look at the bottom row. We have the terms 21x² and -42x. The greatest common factor of 21x² and -42x is 21x. Therefore, we write 21x to the left of the bottom row. You can see it here in the color blue:

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

To find the values below the table, we first divide 21x² by 21x (labeled in blue). This gives us x.

21x² ÷ 21x = x

You can see this value colored in orange below:

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

Next, we divide -42x by 21x (labeled in blue). This gives us -2.

-42x ÷ 21x = -2

You can see this value colored in purple below:

-46	-46x	92
21x	21x²	-42x
	x	-2

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 21x² - 88x + 92. You simply put the values on the left in one set of parentheses, and the values below in another set of parentheses, to get the answer:

(21x - 46)(x - 2)

That’s it! Now you know how to factor the equation 21x² - 88x + 92.

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