Question

What is the factored form of x^2 - 4x - 5?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

we are given

`x^2-4x-5`

we can use formula

`x^2-(a+b)x+ab=(x-a)(x-b)`

so, we have

`a+b=4`

`ab=-5`

now, we can solve for a and b

and we get

`a=5, b=-1`

now, we can plug it in formula

`x^2-4x-5=(x-5)(x+1)`............Answer