Example

Factoring 9m+m2+189m + m^2 + 18

To factor the trinomial 9m+m2+189m + m^2 + 18, it must first be written in descending order of degree (standard form). Rearranging the terms gives m2+9m+18m^2 + 9m + 18. Next, apply the strategy for factoring trinomials of the form x2+bx+cx^2 + bx + c. Since the leading coefficient is 11, find two numbers that multiply to the constant term, 1818, and add to the middle coefficient, 99. The positive factor pairs of 1818 are 11 and 1818, 22 and 99, and 33 and 66. The pair 33 and 66 works because 36=183 \cdot 6 = 18 and 3+6=93 + 6 = 9. Use these numbers to form the binomial factors: (m+3)(m+6)(m + 3)(m + 6). Verify the result by multiplying: (m+3)(m+6)=m2+6m+3m+18=m2+9m+18(m + 3)(m + 6) = m^2 + 6m + 3m + 18 = m^2 + 9m + 18. The completely factored form is (m+3)(m+6)(m + 3)(m + 6).

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Updated 2026-04-29

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