Question

Factorise:

12x² – 7x + 1

Answer 1

We can find two numbers such that pq = 12 × 1 = 12 and p + q = −7.

They are p = −4 and q = −3.

Here, 12x² − 7x + 1

= 12x² − 4x − 3x + 1

= 4x (3x − 1) − 1 (3x − 1)

= (3x − 1) (4x − 1)