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2007-10-26 08:20:33 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
x² + 2x – 3 = (x – 1)(x + 3)
2007-10-26 08:24:43 · answer #1 · answered by gtmooney14 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not tricky at all. To factor this trinomial, look for numbers p and q such that:
(x + p)*(x + q) = x^2 + 2*x - 3
where "*" is multiplication and "^" means "raised to the power". Find values of p and q to make the left and right sides of this equation identical, and you have factored the trinomial on the right.
Multiply out the left side to get:
x^2 + (p+q)*x + p*q = x^2 + 2*x - 3
In order for the left and right trinomials to be the same, the corresponding coefficients must be equal. So:
p+q = 2
p*q = -3
Can you think of two numbers that fit this requirement? Remember, since the product is negative, the signs of p and q must be opposite: One is positive and the other negative.
2007-10-26 08:35:32 · answer #2 · answered by husoski 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(x-2) (x-1)
2007-10-26 08:28:43 · answer #3 · answered by NBCD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋