How do you factor..?

Question

x^2 + 8x - 26 = 0 ?

Answer 1

x² + 8x - 26 = 0

Cannot be factored

Use the quadratic Formula

- - - - - - - - -s-

Answer 2

The quadratic formula is a general application of the method called 'completing the square' to the general quadratic equation

ax^2 + bx +c = 0

You can apply the method directly to the problem without having to memorize the formula.

1. First divide all terms by 'a' so that the coefficient of x^2 is 1.

This is already the case in your problem.

x^2 + 8x -26 =0

2. Move the constant term to the right hand side of the equation.

x^2 + 8x = 26

3. Add a term to both sides that allows you to express the left hand side as a square. In general terms this is (b/2)^2. In this problem the required value is (8/2)^2 = 16.

x^2 + 8x +16 = 26 + 16
(x+4)^2 = 42

4. Take the square root of both sides and solve for x.

x = -4 +/-SQRT(42)

Answer 3

This is not factorable because there are no common numbers that add to 8x or equal to -26.

Answer 4

Since the only factors of 26 are 13 and 2, and those do not give you 8, you have to use the quadratic formula.

-b + or - the square root of b^2 - 4ac all over 2a

a = 1
b= 8
c = -26

i think you can figure it out from there :)

Answer 5

do the quadratic formula

negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared - 4ac all over 2a
sorry its hard to show this in yahoo answers

a is 1, b is 8, c is -26

-8 + or minus square root of 64 - 104 all over 2

use your calculator and do it from there

hope i helped

Answer 6

just complete the square so you get
(x+4)^2-26-16=0
(x+4)^2=42
x+4=square root42
x=-4+or- square root 42
x=-10.4807or 2.4807

Answer 7

it can't be factored

use quadradic fomula to solve fo x