Question

How do you factor the trinomial `x^2 + 12x + 20`?

Answer 1

To factor a trinomial of the form of the form `y = ax^2 + bx + c`, we must find two numbers that multiply to c and that add to b.

Explanation:

Two numbers that multiply to 20 and that add to 12 are 10 and 2.

So, #(x + 10)(x + 2) is the proper factoring of that trinomial.

Practice exercises:

1. Factor the following trinomials if they are factorable.

a) `x^2 + 8x + 9`

b) `x^2 - 8x - 9`

c) `x^2 + 8x - 9`

d) #x^2 - 8x + 9

e) `x^2 - 9x + 8`

f) `x^2 + 6x + 9`

g) `x^2 + 6x - 9`

h) `x^2 - 6x + 9`

g) `x^2 - 13x - 90`

Good luck!