what does it mean to factor 5x^2 − 20?
and then it asks how many factors are in the result?

Question

what does it mean to factor 5x^2 − 20?
and then it asks how many factors are in the result?

anonymous · Answer

To factor mean to find the factor of 5x^2-20. For instance, if we factor the number 6, we get 2 and 3 as factors because 2 times 3 = 6. This also works the same way for 5x^2-20 but there are tricks to finding these factors

triciaal · Answer

It means find the values of x that will satisfy the equation 5x^2 - 20 = 0

anonymous · Answer

@triciaal  finding the x is not factoring is it? Finding x means finding the roots correct?

anonymous · Answer

so what is the answer to this question? :o

triciaal · Answer

The factor.s are what is multiplied to get the product
Factors of 5x^2 = 5 x x
Factors of 20.   ( Like your example with 6 )What numbers multiply to get. 20. 
20.  2 by 10.   5 by 4.

triciaal · Answer

The "draw etc" is not showing here. Does anyone know how to get it here? On the iPad normally on the  computer.

triciaal · Answer

@Nixy because the highest common factor for what is given is 5. Then you can use (a +b)(a-b) because that is for the difference of 2 squares.  And of course the equation as in my original response