Two students, Jennifer and Jamal, factored the trinomial 6x2 - 3x - 9. Jamal factored it as 3 (2x - 3) (x + 1) and Jennifer factored it as (2x - 3) (3x + 3). Indicate which student factored the trinomial completely and which student did not, and explain why.

To factor this:

1st: take out GCF

3 (2x^2 - x - 3)

2nd: do AC method by starting with what 2 numbers equal - 6 [ac] and add up to be - 1 [b]

Two numbers: - 3, 2

3rd: split b into these two numbers

3 (2x^2 + 2x - 3x - 3)

4th: group the first two and last two terms and take out their GCF's

3 (2x[ x + 1 ] - 3 [x+1])

5th: finish up

3 (2x - 3) (x + 1)

Jamal factored it completely because he took out the GCF in the first step while Jennifer did not.