Areteem: Math Challenge II-A (AMC 10) Summer 2017 (Algebra) Homework Problem 1.27

Online Course Discussion Forum

Hello Mr. John:

I have some trouble factoring 1.27. May I have a hint?

(As a side comment, was the word "factor" left out incidentally on the problem?)

Thanks, Lawrence

Try adding and subtracting $ab$ to the expression. That should let you factor by grouping some of the terms.