Question

Divide (x^2-x-20)/(x-5)

Answer 1

Changes made to your input should not affect the solution:

(1): "x2" was replaced by "x^2".

STEP
1
:

x2 + x - 20
Simplify ———————————
x - 4
Trying to factor by splitting the middle term

1.1 Factoring x2 + x - 20

The first term is, x2 its coefficient is 1 .
The middle term is, +x its coefficient is 1 .
The last term, "the constant", is -20

Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 1 • -20 = -20

Step-2 : Find two factors of -20 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is 1 .

-20 + 1 = -19
-10 + 2 = -8
-5 + 4 = -1
-4 + 5 = 1 That's it

Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -4 and 5
x2 - 4x + 5x - 20

Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
x • (x-4)
Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
5 • (x-4)
Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
(x+5) • (x-4)
Which is the desired factorization

Canceling Out :

1.2 Cancel out (x-4) which appears on both sides of the fraction line.

Final result :
x + 5