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 $\color{blue}{ a = 4 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = 3} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 12 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 12 $ and add to $ b = -13 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ 12 $ are:
PRODUCT = 12 | |
1 12 | -1 -12 |
2 6 | -2 -6 |
3 4 | -3 -4 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -13 }$
PRODUCT = 12 and SUM = -13 | |
1 12 | -1 -12 |
2 6 | -2 -6 |
3 4 | -3 -4 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ -13 x $ with $ -x-12x $:
$$ 4x^{2}-13x+3 = 4x^{2}-x-12x+3 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ x $ out of the first two terms and $ -3 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 4x^{2}-x-12x+3 = x\left(4x-1\right) -3\left(4x-1\right) = \left(x-3\right) \left(4x-1\right) $$