The most efficient first step in the process to factor the trinomial 4x3-20x2+24x A. factor out –1 B. factor out 4 C. factor out 4x D. factor out (x – 3)

Mathematics · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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Given the trinomial expression:

4x^3 - 20x^2 + 24x

Factor out the expression.

Solution:

In order to factor out the expression, we simply need to take the greatest common factor of the expression. In our case, we know that 20 and 24 is a multiple of 4, therefore we can factor out 4. For the term x, we can factor out the term with the lowest degree or exponent, which is simply x. 

Greatest Common Factor = 4x

= 4x^3 - 20x^2 + 24x

= 4x ( x^2 - 5x + 6)

Final answer:

= 4x ( x^2 - 5x + 6)