Chapter 6: Problem 24
Factor completely. $$ 36 x 2-12 x+1 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The expression factors as \((6x - 1)^2\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the Quadratic
The given expression is a quadratic trinomial, which follows the standard format \(ax^2 + bx + c\). In this case, \(a = 36\), \(b = -12\), and \(c = 1\).
02
Check for a Perfect Square Trinomial
A perfect square trinomial is one that can be expressed as \((px + q)^2 = p^2x^2 + 2pqx + q^2\). Here, we check if \(36x^2-12x+1\) can be rewritten as \((px + q)^2\).
03
Verify the Perfect Square Conditions
Calculate the square root of the first term: \(\sqrt{36} = 6\). Calculate the square root of the third term: \(\sqrt{1} = 1\). Check if twice the product of these square roots gives the middle term: \(2 \times 6 \times 1 = 12\), which is indeed the absolute value of the middle coefficient (-12).
04
Solve for the Perfect Square Binomial
Since the conditions for a perfect square are satisfied, the expression can be written as a binomial square: \((6x - 1)^2\). This means \(36x^2 - 12x + 1 = (6x - 1)(6x - 1)\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Perfect Square Trinomial
A perfect square trinomial is a specific type of quadratic expression that can be rewritten as the square of a binomial. This occurs when the quadratic expression fits the form \((px + q)^2 = p^2x^2 + 2pqx + q^2\). To determine if a quadratic is a perfect square trinomial, you need to:
- Find the square roots of the first and last terms.
- Ensure that double the product of these square roots is equal to the middle term.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is one that can be expressed in the form \(ax^2 + bx + c = 0\). In our exercise, we start from a quadratic trinomial, \(36x^2 - 12x + 1\), which is not equal to zero, but can be worked with similarly because we are only factoring.Quadratic equations are often solved using different methods:
- Factoring, when the equation can be rewritten as a product of binomials.
- The quadratic formula, when factoring is not straightforward.
- Completing the square, another technique that can also highlight the concept of binomial squares.
Binomial Square
When a quadratic expression is rewritten as a binomial square, it takes the form \((px + q)(px + q)\) or simply \((px + q)^2\). This form makes it easy to see the structure of the perfect square trinomial it originated from. The expression \(36x^2 - 12x + 1\) can be refactored into \((6x - 1)^2\).Recognizing a binomial square involves:
- Identifying the "p" and "q" from the square roots of the first and last terms of the trinomial.
- Checking that the middle term is twice the product of these terms.