Factor completely 49m^2+4-28m?

Question

Now I am assuming it needs to be written in descending order, but I can't solve it that way. I used algebrahelp.com and it gave me (2-7m)(2-7m) which would put the equation completely out of order. So can someone help solve this

Answer 1

I would put it in the order

49m^2 - 28m + 4

49m^2 implies that each factor will start with 7m  (remember the FOIL method)

The 4 implies that each factor will end with 2, (or one with 4 and one with 1)

Try 2

(7m - 2)(7m - 2 )

Multiply this back using the FOIL method (First, Outside, Inside, Last)

7m*7m - 2*7m - 2*7m + 4

49m^2 - 28m + 4  CHECK

So your answer is

(7m - 2)(7m - 2 )

Of course, if you FOIL the answer given you get the same result

4 - 28m + 49m^2

Remember your order of operations!  Since you are adding and subtracting, the order is irrelevant to the calculation.