Factor: Trying to factor by splitting the middle term
The first term is 15a^2, its' coefficient is 15
The middle term is - 58a, its' coefficient is - 58a
The last term is "The Constant" is +48
Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 15(48) = 720
Find two factors of 720, whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is -58
-720
+
-1
=
-721
-360
+
-2
=
-362
-240
+
-3
=
-243
-180
+
-4
=
-184
-144
+
-5
=
-149
-120
+
-6
=
-126
-90
+
-8
=
-98
-80
+
-9
=
-89
-72
+
-10
=
-82
-60
+
-12
=
-72
-48
+
-15
=
-63
-45
+
-16
=
-61
-40
+
-18
=
-58
Factoring: 15a^2 - 58a + 48 = 0
Factor left side of equation:
(5a - 6)(3a - 8)
Set fractions equal to Zero
5a - 6 = 0 or 3a - 8 = 0
Answer : a = 6/5 = 1.200
or a = 8/3 = 2.667
Hope that helps
