Question

Factor as the product of two binomials. x 2 + 3 x − 4

Answer 1

`(x-1)(x+4)`

Explanation:

Given:

`x^2+3x-4`

The best way to write a polynomial with three terms as a product of binomials is to FACTOR!

The middle number is 3 and the last number is -4.

Factoring means we want something like

`(x+?)(x+?)`

We need two numbers that...

ADD together to get 3 and

MULTIPLY together to get -4

Test the numbers -1 and 4:

`-1+4=3\\(-1)4=-4`

These are the right numbers! Now, I can write them as factored binomials!

`(x-1)(x+4)`