Question

Two students, Ann and Max, factored the trinomial 4x2 − 6x − 4. Ann factored it as 2(x − 2)(2x + 1) and Max factored it as (x − 2)(4x + 2). Indicate which student factored the trinomial completely and which student did not, and explain why.

Answer 1

Ann factored the trinomial completely.

Max did not. Max's second factor has terms with a common factor of 2 that can be removed.