Question

Determine the factors of x2 − 6x − 8.
Prime
(x + 4)(x − 2)
(x − 4)(x + 2)
(x + 8)(x − 1)

Answer 1

What are the factors of -8 whose sum is -6?

Answer 2

-8=-1x 8, -1+8=-7
That one does not work.
-8=1 x -8, 1+-8=7
That does not work either.
-8=-2 x 4, -2+4=2
That does not work.
-8=2 x -4, 2+ -4=-2
That does not work either.
There are no other factors of -8 so the given trinomial is prime.

Answer 3

-1+8=-7

Answer 4

Thank you for pointing out that typographical error.

Answer 5

np