Question

Factor this polynomial. -3x^2-5x-2

Answer 1

Answer:

$-(3x+2)(x+1)$

Step-by-step explanation:

Lets factor the trinomial $-3x^2-5x-2$ step-by-step:

Step 1. Since all the terms are negative, we can factor -1 out

$-3x^2-5x-2=-1(3x^2+5x+2)$

Step 2. Split the middle term of $3x^2+5x+2$

$5x=3x+2x$, so $3^2+5x+2=3x^{2} +3x+2x+2$

Step 3. Group common terms

$(3x^2+2x)+(3x+2)$

Step 4. Factor each parentheses

$x(3x+2)+(3x+2)$

Step 5. Factor the common binomial

$(3x+2)(x+1)$

Now, we can put it all together:

$-3x^2-5x-2=-(3x+2)(x+1)$