3
advanced-math

Factor: x2+12x+36x^2 + 12x + 36

A

(x+6)(x6)(x + 6)(x - 6)

B

(x+6)2(x + 6)^2

C

(x+12)(x+3)(x + 12)(x + 3)

D

(x+4)(x+9)(x + 4)(x + 9)

Correct Answer: B

Choice B is the correct answer. Check if this is a Perfect Square Trinomial(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2.

  1. First term is x2x^2.
  2. Last term is 36=6236 = 6^2.
  3. Middle term is 12x12x. Does 2(x)(6)=12x2(x)(6) = 12x? Yes.

Therefore, it factors to (x+6)2(x + 6)^2.

Choice A is incorrect because this is the factorization for x236x^2 - 36 (Difference of Squares). Choice C is incorrect because the middle term would be 15x15x. Choice D is incorrect because the middle term would be 13x13x.