Example

Factoring 16x232x+1216x^2 - 32x + 12 Using the ac Method

Factor the trinomial 16x232x+1216x^2 - 32x + 12 using the ac method.

Step 1: Check for a greatest common factor (GCF). The terms 16x216x^2, 32x-32x, and 1212 share a common factor of 44. Factor it out: 16x232x+12=4(4x28x+3)16x^2 - 32x + 12 = 4(4x^2 - 8x + 3)

Step 2: Find the product acac for the trinomial inside the parentheses. Here a=4a = 4 and c=3c = 3, so ac=43=12ac = 4 \cdot 3 = 12.

Step 3: Find two numbers that multiply to 1212 and add to the middle coefficient, 8-8. These numbers are 2-2 and 6-6 (26=12-2 \cdot -6 = 12, 2+(6)=8-2 + (-6) = -8).

Step 4: Split the middle term 8x-8x into 2x6x-2x - 6x: 4(4x22x6x+3)4(4x^2 - 2x - 6x + 3)

Step 5: Factor the trinomial by grouping: 4[2x(2x1)3(2x1)]4[2x(2x - 1) - 3(2x - 1)] 4(2x3)(2x1)4(2x - 3)(2x - 1)

Step 6: Check by multiplying: 4(2x3)(2x1)=4(4x22x6x+3)=4(4x28x+3)=16x232x+124(2x - 3)(2x - 1) = 4(4x^2 - 2x - 6x + 3) = 4(4x^2 - 8x + 3) = 16x^2 - 32x + 12

The factored form is 4(2x3)(2x1)4(2x - 3)(2x - 1).

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Updated 2026-04-29

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