
Here we will show you how to factor the quadratic function 45x² + 94x + 49 using the box method. In other words, we will show you how to factor 45x squared plus 94x plus 49 (45x^2 + 94x + 49) 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 45x² + 94x + 49, like this:
a = 45
b = 94
c = 49
Step 2: Next, we need to draw a box and divide it into four squares:
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
More specifically, 45 times 49 is 2205. Therefore, we need to find the two numbers that multiply to equal 2205, and add to equal 94.
? × ? = 2205
? + ? = 94
After looking at this problem, we can see that the two numbers that multiply together to equal 2205, and add together to equal 94, are 45 and 49, as illustrated here:
45 × 49 = 2205
45 + 49 = 94
Now, we can fill in the last two squares in our box with 45x and 49x. Place 45x in the upper left square, and place 49x in the lower right square.
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
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 45x and 49. The greatest common factor of 45x and 49 is 1. Therefore, we write 1 to the left of the top row. You can see it here in the color green:
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
45x² ÷ x = 45x
You can see this value colored in orange below:
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
Next, we divide 49x by x (labeled in blue). This gives us 49.
49x ÷ x = 49
You can see this value colored in purple below:
| 1 | 45x | 49 |
| x | 45x² | 49x |
| 45x | 49 |
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 45x² + 94x + 49. 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:
(x + 1)(45x + 49)
That’s it! Now you know how to factor the equation 45x² + 94x + 49.
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