Factor 7x² - 41x + 52

Here we will show you how to factor the quadratic function 7x² - 41x + 52 using the box method. In other words, we will show you how to factor 7x squared minus 41x plus 52 (7x^2 - 41x + 52) 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 7x² - 41x + 52, like this:

a = 7
b = -41
c = 52

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

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

We put 7x² (a) in the bottom left square and 52 (c) in the top right square, like this:

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

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 7 times 52 (a × c), and add together to equal -41 (b).

More specifically, 7 times 52 is 364. Therefore, we need to find the two numbers that multiply to equal 364, and add to equal -41.

? × ? = 364
? + ? = -41

After looking at this problem, we can see that the two numbers that multiply together to equal 364, and add together to equal -41, are -28 and -13, as illustrated here:

-28 × -13 = 364
-28 + -13 = -41

Now, we can fill in the last two squares in our box with -28x and -13x. Place -28x in the upper left square, and place -13x in the lower right square.

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

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 -28x and 52. The greatest common factor of -28x and 52 is -4. Therefore, we write -4 to the left of the top row. You can see it here in the color green:

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

Next, let’s look at the bottom row. We have the terms 7x² and -13x. The greatest common factor of 7x² and -13x is x. Therefore, we write x to the left of the bottom row. You can see it here in the color blue:

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

To find the values below the table, we first divide 7x² by x (labeled in blue). This gives us 7x.

7x² ÷ x = 7x

You can see this value colored in orange below:

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

Next, we divide -13x by x (labeled in blue). This gives us -13.

-13x ÷ x = -13

You can see this value colored in purple below:

-4	-28x	52
x	7x²	-13x
	7x	-13

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 7x² - 41x + 52. 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 - 4)(7x - 13)

That’s it! Now you know how to factor the equation 7x² - 41x + 52.

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

Factor 7x² - 41x + 54
Here is the next quadratic function on our list that we have factored for you.