Math Problem Statement

Factor the trinomial 4x^2 - 8x + 4 and find the values of A and B in the form (Ax - B)^2.

Solution

The problem asks us to factor the trinomial 4x28x+44x^2 - 8x + 4 in the form of (AxB)2(Ax - B)^2, where AA and BB are constants to be determined.

Let's start by recognizing that this is a perfect square trinomial. We want to express 4x28x+44x^2 - 8x + 4 as the square of a binomial. Here’s how we approach this:

  1. Identify the coefficients:

    • The first term is 4x24x^2, which is the square of 2x2x, so A=2A = 2.
    • The last term is 44, which is the square of 22, so B=2B = 2.
  2. Check the middle term: The middle term should be twice the product of AA and BB, i.e., 2×A×B-2 \times A \times B. 2×2×2=8x-2 \times 2 \times 2 = -8x This matches the middle term in the original trinomial.

Therefore, we can factor the trinomial as: 4x28x+4=(2x2)24x^2 - 8x + 4 = (2x - 2)^2

Thus, A=2A = 2 and B=2B = 2.

Final Answer:

  • A=2A = 2
  • B=2B = 2

Would you like more details on how perfect square trinomials are factored? Here are some related questions:

  1. How do you identify a perfect square trinomial?
  2. Can this technique be applied to any trinomial?
  3. What happens if the middle term doesn't match twice the product of AA and BB?
  4. How do you check if a trinomial is factored correctly?
  5. Can we factor this trinomial in other ways besides a perfect square?

Tip: Always verify the middle term when factoring perfect square trinomials to avoid errors.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Algebra
Factoring Trinomials
Perfect Square Trinomials

Formulas

(Ax - B)^2 = A^2x^2 - 2ABx + B^2

Theorems

Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 8-10