Solve 3x^2-33x+72=

$$3 x ^ { 2 } - 33 x + 72 =$$

Factor

$$3\left(x-8\right)\left(x-3\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor out 3.

$$3\left(x^{2}-11x+24\right)$$

Consider x^{2}-11x+24. Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+24. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-11 ab=1\times 24=24$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. List all such integer pairs that give product 24.

$$-1,-24 -2,-12 -3,-8 -4,-6$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1-24=-25 -2-12=-14 -3-8=-11 -4-6=-10$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum -11.

$$a=-8 b=-3$$

Rewrite x^{2}-11x+24 as \left(x^{2}-8x\right)+\left(-3x+24\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-8x\right)+\left(-3x+24\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and -3 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-8\right)-3\left(x-8\right)$$

Factor out common term x-8 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-8\right)\left(x-3\right)$$

Rewrite the complete factored expression.

$$3\left(x-8\right)\left(x-3\right)$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Quadratic polynomial can be factored using the transformation ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right), where x_{1} and x_{2} are the solutions of the quadratic equation ax^{2}+bx+c=0.

$$3x^{2}-33x+72=0$$

All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. The quadratic formula gives two solutions, one when ± is addition and one when it is subtraction.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±\sqrt{\left(-33\right)^{2}-4\times 3\times 72}}{2\times 3}$$

Square -33.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±\sqrt{1089-4\times 3\times 72}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -4 times 3.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±\sqrt{1089-12\times 72}}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply -12 times 72.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±\sqrt{1089-864}}{2\times 3}$$

Add 1089 to -864.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±\sqrt{225}}{2\times 3}$$

Take the square root of 225.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-33\right)±15}{2\times 3}$$

The opposite of -33 is 33.

$$x=\frac{33±15}{2\times 3}$$

Multiply 2 times 3.

$$x=\frac{33±15}{6}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{33±15}{6} when ± is plus. Add 33 to 15.

$$x=\frac{48}{6}$$

Divide 48 by 6.

$$x=8$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{33±15}{6} when ± is minus. Subtract 15 from 33.

$$x=\frac{18}{6}$$

Divide 18 by 6.

$$x=3$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 8 for x_{1} and 3 for x_{2}.

$$3x^{2}-33x+72=3\left(x-8\right)\left(x-3\right)$$

Steps Using Direct Factoring Method

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by a new direct factoring method that does not require guess work. To use the direct factoring method, the equation must be in the form x^2+Bx+C=0.This is achieved by dividing both sides of the equation by 3

$$x ^ 2 -11x +24 = 0$$

Let r and s be the factors for the quadratic equation such that x^2+Bx+C=(x−r)(x−s) where sum of factors (r+s)=−B and the product of factors rs = C

$$r + s = 11 rs = 24$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 11 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*11 = \frac{11}{2}. You can also see that the midpoint of r and s corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation y=x^2+Bx+C. The values of r and s are equidistant from the center by an unknown quantity u. Express r and s with respect to variable u. <div style='padding: 8px'><img src='https://opalmath.azureedge.net/customsolver/quadraticgraph.png' style='width: 100%;max-width: 700px' /></div>

$$r = \frac{11}{2} - u s = \frac{11}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 24

$$(\frac{11}{2} - u) (\frac{11}{2} + u) = 24$$

Simplify by expanding (a -b) (a + b) = a^2 – b^2

$$\frac{121}{4} - u^2 = 24$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{121}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = 24-\frac{121}{4} = -\frac{25}{4}$$

Simplify the expression by multiplying -1 on both sides and take the square root to obtain the value of unknown variable u

$$u^2 = \frac{25}{4} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{25}{4}} = \pm \frac{5}{2}$$

The factors r and s are the solutions to the quadratic equation. Substitute the value of u to compute the r and s.

$$r =\frac{11}{2} - \frac{5}{2} = 3 s = \frac{11}{2} + \frac{5}{2} = 8$$

Evaluate

$$3\left(x-8\right)\left(x-3\right)$$