How do you factor 3x squared minus 16x plus 5?

Answer 1

3x2 - 16x + 5

= 3x2 - x - 15x + 5

= x(3x - 1) - 5(3x -1)

= (3x - 1)(x - 5)

or

I would use the quadratic equation. 3X^2 - 16X + 5 = 0

X = -b +/- sqrt(b^2-4ac)/2a

a = 3

b = -16

c = 5

X = -(-16) +/- sqrt[(-16)^2 - 4(3)(5)]/2(3)

X = 16 +/- sqrt(256 - 60)/6

X = 16 +/-sqrt(196)/6

X = (16 +/- 14)/6

X = 5

X = 1/3

check the easy one

3(5)^2 - 16(5) + 5 = 0

75 - 80 + 5 = 0

0 = 0

easy one checks; you try the 1/3 check