Question

Factor: x^2 + 5x + 4

Answer 1

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Factor%3A++x%5E2+%2B+5x+%2B+4+

Answer 2

With factoring we are multiplying backwards

What multiplies to make x^2?

What multiplies to make 4? (There is more than one choice)

Answer 3

x ^2 = x times x

4 = 4 *1 and 2 * 2

Answer 4

so for the front terms we have x's

(x + ?)(x + ?)

and for the back terms we select 4 and 1 because 2 and 2 do not equal 5; thus,

(x + 4)(x + 1)