Question

How do you solve (2x-5)(x+1)=0

Answer 1

2x-5=0 and x+1=0

Answer 2

Adding to the previous one
x = 2.5 or x = -1

Answer 3

note we can only do this because it is set equal to 0, if it was set equal to 1 we would need to expand the left hand side, and set the whole thing equal to 0, and then factor it again).