Question

Explain how to factor the following trinomial forms: x2 + bx + c.

Is there more than one way to factor this?

Answer 1

Method 1: Find two numbers that multiply to c AND also add to b

call these two numbers p and q ... ie p*q = c and p+q = b

this would mean that x^2 + bx + c factors to (x+p)(x+q)

Answer 2

Method 2: Find the x-intercepts of y = x^2 + bx + c by graphing

if the x-intercepts are p and q, then x^2 + bx + c factors to (x-p)(x-q)

Answer 3

Method 3: Use the quadratic formula to find the two solutions x = p or x = q, which means

x^2 + bx + c factors to (x-p)(x-q)

Answer 4

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