Question

What is the factored for of the polynomial x2 - 16x + 48

Answer 1

What two factors of 48 add up to -16? -4 and -12

So the factored form would be (x-4)(x-12)

Answer 2

`(x-12)(x-4)`

Explanation:

`x^2 - 16x + 48`

In the given expression , the product is 48 and sum is -16

-4 times -12 gives us 48

-4 plus -12 gives us -16. So two factors are -4 and -12

Beak the middle term using factors

`x^2 -4x-12x+48`

Group first two terms and last two terms

`(x^2 -4x)+(-12x+48)`

FActor out GCF from each group

`x(x -4)-12(x-4)`

FActor out x-4 that is in common

`(x-12)(x-4)`