169,501 views
11 votes
11 votes
Factor this trinomial

X^2 + 3x - 4

User Anders B
by
2.7k points

1 Answer

21 votes
21 votes

Answer:

(x - 1)(x + 4)

Explanation:

What multiplies to (-4) but adds to (3)?

These two values are (4) and (-1). Therefore, these are the values that make up the factored trinomial.

x² + 3x - 4 -----> (x - 1)(x + 4)

You can check your answer by expanding the factors. This is done by multiplying each term within the first parentheses by each term within the second parentheses.

(x - 1)(x + 4) -----> x² - 1x + 4x - 4 -----> x² + 3x - 4

User Bastianwegge
by
3.2k points
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