Question

I need help factoring this trinomeal: 2x squared + 3x + 1

Answer 1

Let's start with what we know:

$2 x^{2}+3x+1$
And we are trying to put it into this form:

$(? +/-?)(? +/- ?)$

Here is what it would look like:

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

You can check you work by using the FOIL method (first, outer, inner, last)

Answer 2

2x² + 3x + 1
2x² + 2x + x + 1
2x(x) + 2x(1) + 1(x) + 1(1)
2x(x + 1) + 1(x + 1)
(2x + 1)(x + 1)