Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Factoring Quadratic Expressions
Factoring quadratic expressions involves rewriting a polynomial in the form ax^2 + bx + c as a product of two binomials. This process is essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations. For example, the expression 4z^2 + 28z + 49 can be factored to identify its roots and analyze its graph.
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Perfect Square Trinomials
A perfect square trinomial is a specific type of quadratic expression that can be expressed as the square of a binomial. The general form is (a + b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2. In the case of 4z^2 + 28z + 49, recognizing it as a perfect square trinomial allows us to factor it as (2z + 7)^2.
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The Distributive Property
The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac, which is fundamental in both expanding and factoring expressions. When factoring, we often reverse this property to find common factors or to express a polynomial as a product of simpler expressions. Understanding this property is crucial for manipulating algebraic expressions effectively.
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