Question

What is a factor of x^2+5x-24

Answer 1

To factor x^2+5x-24:
Set up parentheses,
x * x = x^2 so x in beginnig of each parenthesis
What numbers multiply into -24 and add up to 5? 8*(-3)=24 8-3=5
(x+8)(x-3)

Answer 2

-24*x^2 = -24x^2
After that, you find what two numbers multiply to make -24 and add up to make 5 ('5x') which are -3 + 8. After you found those two numbers you set it up like (x^2 -3x) (there is an x because you multiplied -24*x^2 which would mean you have to distribute the x's to the other two numbers you found) (8x-24). From then, you take out a common multiple from (x^2 - 3x) and (8x-24). The common multiple of (x^2-3x) would just be 'x' and the common multiple of (8x-24) is '8' which makes them (x-3) (x+8). A way you can check is that (8x-24) reduces to (x-3) which is the same as what we found when we reduced (x^2-3x) ***those two should always be the same*