Question

Factor the quadratic expressionx^2 + 5x - 14

Answer 1

Given:

`x^2+5x-14`

Using the product-sum to factor the expression, the middle term is split;

`\begin{gathered} x^2+7x-2x-14 \\ \\ Grouping\text{ the terms;} \\ (x^2+7x)(-2x-14) \\ \\ Factor\text{ out the terms;} \\ x(x+7)-2(x+7) \\ =(x-2)(x+7) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the factored term is;

`(x-2)(x+7)`