Learn Before
Factoring
Factor by applying the trinomial factoring strategy. The constant term is negative, so the two numbers must have opposite signs — one positive and one negative. We need factors of whose sum is .
Step 1 — Set up two binomials with first terms : .
Step 2 — Find two numbers with opposite signs that multiply to and add to . List all factor pairs of and check their sums:
| Factors of | Sum of factors |
|---|---|
| ✓ | |
The pair and has a product of and a sum of .
Step 3 — Use and as the last terms of the binomials: .
Step 4 — Check by multiplying: ✓.
The factored form is . This example demonstrates a case where is negative and the constant has multiple factor pairs to consider. All four sign arrangements of the factor pairs of must be tested — only the pair and produces the required sum of .
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Ch.7 Factoring - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax
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Factoring
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Learn After
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