Connect with experts and get insightful answers on IDNLearn.com. Get the information you need from our community of experts who provide accurate and comprehensive answers to all your questions.

Select the correct answer.

What is the factored form of this expression?

[tex]\[ -9x^3 - 12x^2 - 4x \][/tex]

A. [tex]\(-x(3x - 2)(3x + 2)\)[/tex]

B. [tex]\(x(3x - 2)(3x + 2)\)[/tex]

C. [tex]\(x(3x - 2)^2\)[/tex]

D. [tex]\(-x(3x + 2)^2\)[/tex]


Sagot :

To factor the expression [tex]\(-9x^3 - 12x^2 - 4x\)[/tex], follow these steps:

1. Identify the Greatest Common Factor (GCF):
The GCF of the terms [tex]\(-9x^3\)[/tex], [tex]\(-12x^2\)[/tex], and [tex]\(-4x\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-x\)[/tex].

2. Factor out the GCF:
By factoring [tex]\(-x\)[/tex] from each term, we get:
[tex]\[ -x(9x^2 + 12x + 4) \][/tex]

3. Recognize the quadratic expression:
Now we need to factor the quadratic expression [tex]\(9x^2 + 12x + 4\)[/tex]. The quadratic is of the form [tex]\(ax^2 + bx + c\)[/tex].

4. Factor the quadratic expression:
The quadratic [tex]\(9x^2 + 12x + 4\)[/tex] can be factored into a perfect square trinomial:
[tex]\[ 9x^2 + 12x + 4 = (3x + 2)^2 \][/tex]

5. Combine the factored terms:
Substitute [tex]\( (3x + 2)^2 \)[/tex] back into the expression we factored out earlier:
[tex]\[ -x(9x^2 + 12x + 4) = -x(3x + 2)^2 \][/tex]

Therefore, the fully factored form of the expression [tex]\(-9x^3 - 12x^2 - 4x\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-x(3x + 2)^2\)[/tex].

So, the correct answer is:
D. [tex]\(-x(3x+2)^2\)[/tex]