Please use " ^ " to denote exponentiation: 2x^2 − 5x − 3
Rather than try to factor this from scratch, test the given factors in the possible answers. Looking at the fourth possible answer (D), we see that two criteria are satisfied: (1) the product of +1 and -3 is -3, which equals the third term of the given polynomial, and (2) +1x - 6x = -5x, which equals the second term. Thus,
2x^2 − 5x − 3 = (2x + 1)(x − 3)
