Question

How do you factor: #y= x^2-5xs-24s^2 #?

Answer 1

y = (x + 3x)(x - 8s)

Explanation:

`y = x^2 - 5sx - 24s^2.`
Consider s as a constant.
Find 2 terms, knowing sum (-5s) and product (-24s^2).
These 2 terms have opposite signs, because ac < 0.
Factor pairs of (-24s^2) -->...(3s, -8s). This sum is -5s = b. Then the 2 numbers are; 3s and -8s.
Factored form: y = (x + 3s)(x - 8s)