factoring

[purplemonkey]

i am having some factoring issues

3x^3 + 2x^2 -12x -8
i am not sure what to...i was thinking i should move over the 8 and facotr out an x giving me

x(3x^2 + 2x -12)=8
but i cant seem to factor whats left.....do i need to complete the sq....
but to do that i would have to factor out the 3 ?
3x(x^2 +2/3x-4)=8
i just need some help getting started

 

[stapel]

Factoring never involves putting part of the expression on the other side of the "equals" sign, where you can't get at it. Solving by factoring requires that everything be on one side, with "zero" on the other. That's the only way the process works.

When they give you four terms, and nothing comes out of everything, look at factoring "in pairs".

. . . . .3x³ + 2x² - 12x - 8

. . . . .(3x³ + 2x²) + (-12x - 8)

. . . . .x²(3x + 2) + (-4)(3x + 2)

Can you take it from there?

Eliz.