Question

factor the trinomial below x^2+7x -30

Answer 1

To solve this, you need to factor -30.

For example: 1 times negative 30 equals negative 30. So 1 and -30 are factors of -30.

Next take each group of factors and add them together to see if you get them equal to seven.

In my example, you would add -30 + 1. Which equals -29.

However, -29 does not equal 7, so the factors 1,-30 are not what we need.

We could then try -1 times 30. Adding them gets us -1+30=29

Clearly, 29 does not equal 7, so the factors -1,30 are not what we need.

Keep trying the other factors of -30. You will find a combination that does work.