Auburn University-Montgomery Algebra Factoring Polynomials Workheet

Two students factored the following polynomial. Both came up with different answers.

3×2+42x+72

Student 1: (x+2)(x+12) Student 2: 3(x+2)(x+12)

1. Which answer is correct? Give evidence.
2. What was wrong with that is incorrect? Explain what they did wrong.

What important note can you make about factoring that you’ve learned from mistakes made on this problem?