Binomial factors for this trinomial?

Question

I'm stumped. This is probably a really simple problem but I'm drawing a blank:

x^2 - 5x - 14

I can only get as far as (x -_ ) (x +_ ). I really have no idea what goes in the blank spaces. I'm not even 100% sure I have the - and + symbols in the right order.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

x-7 and x+2

the roots are -7 and +2.
The product of the roots is the constant (-14)
The sum of the roots is the coefficient of the x term (-5)

Answer 2

Investigate the factors of 14: 1,14 & 2,7. Since -7 + 2 =-5, the coefficient of the x term, use (x - 7)(x + 2) = x^2 -5x - 14.