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38 votes
38 votes
Why can't
x^2-5x-1 be factored?

User Manush
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1 Answer

10 votes
10 votes

Answer:

Explanation:

Discussion.

Not directly. But the quadratic formula can do it. But that's not your question.

the factors you get must contain the factors for 1 which are 1 and - 1

These factors must add to - 5. There's no way that will happen with 1 and - 1 and you would be creative math if you tried to say that you could make one of the factors (x -1-1-1-1-1-1). That creates a whole new question.

User Ojathelonius
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