Q2 of 52 Page 131

Let’s resolve the following algebraic expressions into factors by expressing them as the difference of two squares:

3a2-2a-5


make the coefficient of a2 as 1.



Add and subtract the half of square of coefficient of “a”.







Apply the formula a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a-b)






= (3a-5)(a + 1)


Hence the factors of 3a2-2a-5 are (3a-5)(a + 1).


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