Question

can you help me with a^2 – a – 20

Answer 1

What do you need help with, solving or factoring?

Answer 2

i belive bolth

Answer 3

Okay then, so do you know how to factor?
So basically what you have to do is treat the last number as a product, and the second coefficient as a sum. So think, what two numbers add up to -1, and multiply to -20?

Answer 4

+5, -4

Answer 5

No, they have to add up to -1. So, 5 + (-4) isn't -1. You're close.

Answer 6

+4, -5

Answer 7

is it 2^2- a -20

Answer 8

no is it 2^2 +5a -4a -20

Answer 9

There you go!, Next you split up the middle term so it gets one of each coefficient:
a^2 – 5a + 4a – 20
Then you factor:

So for the first two parts, the common factor is the a right? So take that out! Then you get:

a(a-5) for the part that says a^2 - 5a.

So doing that, whats the common part/number in 4a-20? How would you factor that?

Answer 10

i got it thx

Answer 11

Is that all?

Answer 12

And your welcome.

Answer 13

no but could you review my other question