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Mathematics 81 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

factor: x^2 – 8x + 15

OpenStudy (anonymous):

what two numbers could you multiply together to get 15 that add up to -8?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

-5, -3

OpenStudy (anonymous):

yes, so your factored for is (x-5) and (x-3)

OpenStudy (anonymous):

how do you get that? i don't get it..

OpenStudy (anonymous):

when you factor out a function that has a square all you're doing is finding the products that make that function. kinda like normal multiplication. so if you took (x-5) and (x-3) and multiplied them out you would end up with your original equation.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

okay, gotcha. thank you.

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