Step 1: Identify constants $ a $ , $ b $ and $ c $.
$ a $ is a number in front of the $ x^2 $ term $ b $ is a number in front of the $ x $ term and $ c $ is a constant. In this case:
Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 20 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = 1} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 20 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 20 $ and add to $ b = -9 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ 20 $ are:
PRODUCT = 20 | |
1 20 | -1 -20 |
2 10 | -2 -10 |
4 5 | -4 -5 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -9 }$
PRODUCT = 20 and SUM = -9 | |
1 20 | -1 -20 |
2 10 | -2 -10 |
4 5 | -4 -5 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ -9 x $ with $ -4x-5x $:
$$ 20x^{2}-9x+1 = 20x^{2}-4x-5x+1 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 4x $ out of the first two terms and $ -1 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 20x^{2}-4x-5x+1 = 4x\left(5x-1\right) -1\left(5x-1\right) = \left(4x-1\right) \left(5x-1\right) $$