## anonymous 5 years ago how do i factor: 14x^2-47x+7=0

1. anonymous

You don't.

2. anonymous

oh.. ok well my original problem i needed to solve was -42x^2+141x=-21 and i thought i was on the right track... maybe not?

3. anonymous

find delta and factor using the solutions

4. anonymous

what is delta?

5. anonymous

The only thing that will make 14x^2 is (7x )*(2x ). Now, the only factors that give the 7 is 7 and 1. With this knowledge you get (7x-1)*(2x-7)

6. anonymous

Wrong; is it possible that taking out 3 was all you were meant to do? Because it can;t go any further.

7. anonymous

hmm.. maybe but the example i followed came up with two terms which then i put to the zero factor property... but maybe this is as far as this one goes.

8. anonymous

what about the p and q thing?

9. anonymous

I put it through the answer check and it said that 14x^2-47x+7 was wrong

10. anonymous

it said the methods to solving were either the quadratic formula or by completing the square.

11. anonymous

$\sqrt{47^2-4 \times 7 \times 14} \notin \mathbb{Z^+}$ therefore it won't factorise Completing the square doesn't look too friendly on this one; just go with the formula

12. anonymous

$x = \frac{47 \pm \sqrt{1817}}{28}$ ...dunoo how that will go in your 'answer check'

13. anonymous

haha yeah.. probably not that well.. but thanks for the help @INewton

14. anonymous

just an update... apparently 14x^2-47x+7=) factors into (7x+1)(2x-7)... which in turn would make the real number solutions: -1/7 and 7/2