Question

In the quadratic function y=x^2+bx+24, what is the value of the 'b' term which would make the quadratic function factorable?

Answer 1

±
13
,
±
8
,
±
7

These are the possible sums of the factor pairs of 12
Explanation:
b is the sum of the factors used to multiply to get 12 for the C value.
(
x
+
1
)
×
(
x
+
12
)
=
x
2
+
13
x
+
12

(
x
−
1
)
×
(
x
−
12
)
=
x
2
+
(
−
13
)
x
+
12
(
x
+
2
)
×
(
x
+
6
)
=
x
2
+
8
x
+
12

(
x
−
2
)
×
(
x
−
6
)
=
x
2
+
(
−
8
)
x
+
12
(
x
+
3
)
×
(
x
+
4
)
=
x
2
+
7
x
+
12

(
x
−
3
)
×
(
x
−
4
)
=
x
2
+
(
−
7
)
x
+
12
These are the only whole number factors of 12 which can be factored.