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 $\color{blue}{ a = 7 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = 9} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 63 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 63 $ and add to $ b = -24 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ 63 $ are:
PRODUCT = 63 | |
1 63 | -1 -63 |
3 21 | -3 -21 |
7 9 | -7 -9 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -24 }$
PRODUCT = 63 and SUM = -24 | |
1 63 | -1 -63 |
3 21 | -3 -21 |
7 9 | -7 -9 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ -24 x $ with $ -3x-21x $:
$$ 7x^{2}-24x+9 = 7x^{2}-3x-21x+9 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ x $ out of the first two terms and $ -3 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 7x^{2}-3x-21x+9 = x\left(7x-3\right) -3\left(7x-3\right) = \left(x-3\right) \left(7x-3\right) $$