Question

factor: x^2 – 8x + 15

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

-5, -3

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

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

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

okay, gotcha. thank you.