Question

question
factor the trinomial:
$3x^2 + 25x + 42$

Explanation:

Step1: Find product of first/last terms

$3 \times 42 = 126$

Step2: Find pair summing to 25

Factors of 126: $18$ and $7$ (since $18+7=25$)

Step3: Split middle term

$3x^2 + 18x + 7x + 42$

Step4: Factor by grouping

$3x(x+6) + 7(x+6)$

Step5: Factor out common binomial

$(3x+7)(x+6)$

Answer:

$(3x + 7)(x + 6)$