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Lucas and Erick are factoring the polynomial [tex]12x^3 - 6x^2 + 8x - 4[/tex].

Lucas groups the polynomial as [tex](12x^3 + 8x) + (-6x^2 - 4)[/tex] to factor.

Erick groups the polynomial as [tex](12x^3 - 6x^2) + (8x - 4)[/tex] to factor.

Who correctly grouped the terms to factor? Explain.


Sagot :

Certainly! Let's analyze the factoring approaches of both Lucas and Erick step by step.

### Lucas' Method:
Lucas groups the polynomial as:
[tex]\[ (12x^3 + 8x) + (-6x^2 - 4) \][/tex]

1. First Group: [tex]\( 12x^3 + 8x \)[/tex]

- Identify common factors:
[tex]\[ 12x^3 + 8x = 4x(3x^2 + 2) \][/tex]

2. Second Group: [tex]\( -6x^2 - 4 \)[/tex]

- Identify common factors:
[tex]\[ -6x^2 - 4 = -2(3x^2 + 2) \][/tex]

3. Combine Factored Terms:

- Combine the factored forms within each group:
[tex]\[ 4x(3x^2 + 2) + (-2)(3x^2 + 2) \][/tex]

- Factor out the common binomial term [tex]\( (3x^2 + 2) \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ (3x^2 + 2)(4x - 2) \][/tex]

### Erick's Method:
Erick groups the polynomial as:
[tex]\[ (12x^3 - 6x^2) + (8x - 4) \][/tex]

1. First Group: [tex]\( 12x^3 - 6x^2 \)[/tex]

- Identify common factors:
[tex]\[ 12x^3 - 6x^2 = 6x^2(2x - 1) \][/tex]

2. Second Group: [tex]\( 8x - 4 \)[/tex]

- Identify common factors:
[tex]\[ 8x - 4 = 4(2x - 1) \][/tex]

3. Combine Factored Terms:

- Combine the factored forms within each group:
[tex]\[ 6x^2(2x - 1) + 4(2x - 1) \][/tex]

- Factor out the common binomial term [tex]\( (2x - 1) \)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ (2x - 1)(6x^2 + 4) \][/tex]

### Verification:

1. Lucas' Factored Form: [tex]\((3x^2 + 2)(4x - 2)\)[/tex]

- Expand and verify if it matches the original polynomial:
[tex]\[ (3x^2 + 2)(4x - 2) = 3x^2 \cdot 4x + 3x^2 \cdot -2 + 2 \cdot 4x + 2 \cdot -2 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ = 12x^3 -6x^2 + 8x - 4 \][/tex]

- The factorization is correct as it gives the original polynomial.

2. Erick's Factored Form: [tex]\((2x - 1)(6x^2 + 4)\)[/tex]

- Expand and verify if it matches the original polynomial:
[tex]\[ (2x - 1)(6x^2 + 4) = 2x(6x^2) + 2x(4) - 1(6x^2) - 1(4) \][/tex]
[tex]\[ = 12x^3 + 8x - 6x^2 - 4 \][/tex]

- The factorization is also correct as it gives the original polynomial.

### Conclusion:
Both Lucas and Erick have correctly grouped the terms of the polynomial [tex]\( 12x^3 - 6x^2 + 8x - 4\)[/tex] and factored it properly. Therefore, both students are correct in their approaches.
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