Step 1: Identify constants $ a $ , $ b $ and $ c $.
$ a $ is a number in front of the $ x^2 $ term $ b $ is a number in front of the $ x $ term and $ c $ is a constant. In this case:
Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 3 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = 8} $.
$$ a \cdot c = 24 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = 24 $ and add to $ b = -25 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ 24 $ are:
| PRODUCT = 24 | |
| 1 24 | -1 -24 |
| 2 12 | -2 -12 |
| 3 8 | -3 -8 |
| 4 6 | -4 -6 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = -25 }$
| PRODUCT = 24 and SUM = -25 | |
| 1 24 | -1 -24 |
| 2 12 | -2 -12 |
| 3 8 | -3 -8 |
| 4 6 | -4 -6 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ -25 x $ with $ -x-24x $:
$$ 3x^{2}-25x+8 = 3x^{2}-x-24x+8 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ x $ out of the first two terms and $ -8 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 3x^{2}-x-24x+8 = x\left(3x-1\right) -8\left(3x-1\right) = \left(x-8\right) \left(3x-1\right) $$