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Factoring negative quantity from algebraic expression?

  1. May 4, 2008 #1

    Holocene

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    Factoring negative quantity from algebraic expression???

    Why is this wrong???

    [tex]\displaystyle{28xy^2 - 14x = -14x(-2y^2 + 1)}[/tex]

    The book instead does this:

    [tex]\displaystyle{28xy^2 - 14x = -7x(-4y^2 + 2)}[/tex]
     
    Holocene, May 4, 2008
  2. jcsd
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  3. May 4, 2008 #2

    flebbyman

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    Your book is incorrect
     
    flebbyman, May 4, 2008
  4. May 4, 2008 #3

    Hurkyl

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    Staff Emeritus
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    Gold Member

    Those are both valid factorizations.
     
    Hurkyl, May 4, 2008
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