Question

When a trinomial is factored as (x + a)(x + b), what is the sum of a and b?

A. The constant term of the trinomial
B. The coefficient of the x-term of the trinomial
C. The coefficient of the x2-term of the trinomial
D. The degree of the trinomial

Answer 1

a and b are both constants. For example 5 is a constant. So lets say a =5 and b= 6. What is a times b? It would be 30 which is also a constant.

A constant times a constant is always going to equal a constant.

Answer 2

A constant plus a constant will also result in a constant
say a= 5 and b = 6 again. a+b = ? . 5+6 = 11 which is a constant.

Answer 3

x2+ax+b factors into (x+p)(x+q), where p and q are factors of b whose sum is a.