Final answer:
To find the value of p for which -5 is a root of the quadratic equation 2x^2 + px - 15 = 0, we substitute -5 into the equation and solve for p, which gives us the value of 7.
Step-by-step explanation:
If -5 is a root of the quadratic equation 2x^2 + px - 15 = 0, we can find the value of p by substituting x with -5 in the equation and solving for p.
Substituting x with -5 gives us:
2(-5)^2 + p(-5) - 15 = 0
50 - 5p - 15 = 0
35 - 5p = 0
Now, we can solve for p:
5p = 35
p = 7
Therefore, the value of p that makes -5 a root of the equation is 7.