Question

Factor the trinomial completely:

-n^2-12n-27

I'm confused because of the -n.

Answer 1

Multiply -27 and -1... you get 27.

Answer 2

Find two numbers that multiply to get 27 and add to get -12.

Answer 3

9*3

Answer 4

Hint: negative times negative = positive.

Answer 5

Yes, instead it's -9 and -3.

Answer 6

So can you split the middle term?

Answer 7

I get the negatives in the problem where I am lost is with the -n^2

Answer 8

Yes you can split the middle term because you can get the n from what you factor out.

Answer 9

The problem I am running into is when you try and FOIL (n-3)(n-9) you don't come up with a -n^2

Answer 10

\[\rm -n^2 - 9n - 3n -27 = -n(n + 9) - 3(n + 9)\]Where's the problem?

Answer 11

I wasn't factoring out the 3rd n.

Answer 12

or something like that.

Answer 13

Still was not correct... Had to only factor out a - and then get -(n+3)(n+9)

Answer 14

-(n+3)(n+9) that is all factors.
it can be (-n-3)(n+9) or (n+3)(-n-9)

Answer 15

Well not according to what MyMathLab wanted... this stupid online crap is so picky!

Answer 16

well if the quadratic is - n^2 - 12n - 27

take-1 out as a common factor

-1(n^2 + 12n + 27)

or more commonly written

-(n^2 + 12n + 27)

just factor the quadratic in the brackets