Question

The trinomial x2 bx c factors to (x m)(x n). if b is negative and c is positive, what must be true about m and n?

Sample answer- The value of m must be greater than the value of n. When you multiply the binomials, the middle term is the result of combining the outside and inside products. So, bx = –nx + mx, or bx = (–n + m)x. This means that b = –n + m. When adding numbers with opposite signs, you subtract their absolute values, and keep the sign of the number having the larger absolute value. Since b is positive, m must have the larger absolute value.

Answer 1

The answer is D.I just took the assignment.

Answer 2

The "simple answer" is incorrect. (Actually, it's hard to tell, since the signs in your expression are missing.)

If c is positive in x^2 +bx +c, then the signs of m and n must be the same, and both must match the sign of b.