Question

Is it possible to factor `y= x^2+5x-14`? If so, what are the factors?

Answer 1

Yes this formula `y = (x + a)(x + b) = x^2 + (a +b)x + a*b`

Explanation:

In this case `a+b = 5` and `a*b=-14`. You can solve one of these equations, let's say that `b=5-a`. Now you can plug `b` into the other equation `a*b=-14`. Therefore `a(5-a)=-14`. `5a-a^2=-14`. That gets you close, but typically there is some guessing and checking with these problems. The more you practice, however, the faster you will get at solving them.