Step : You should now have four terms

Directions: Factor each polynomial.

2x2 + 17x + 21

(x + 7) (2x + 3)

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

2x² + 17x + 21

Consider the factors of the product of the x² term and the constant which sum to give the coefficient of the x - term.

product = 2 * 21 = 42 and sum = + 17

The factors are + 14 and + 3

Use these factors to split the x - term

2x² + 14x + 3x + 21 (factor the first/second and third/fourth terms)

= 2x (x + 7) + 3 (x + 7) ← factor out (x + 7) from each term

= (x + 7) (2x + 3) ← in factored form