Question

When the factors of a trinomial are (x+p) and (x-q) then the coefficient of the x-term in the trinomial is:

Answer 1

p - q

Explanation:

Given the factors

(x + p)(x - q) ← expanding the factors

= x² - qx + px - pq ← collect like terms

= x² + px - qx - pq ← factor out x in each of the x- terms

= x² + (p - q)x - pq

The coefficient of the x- term is p - q