Question

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

Answer 1

Answer:

$(x-1)(x+4)$

Step-by-step 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!

$(x-1)(x+4)$