SOLUTION: Factor 5x^2-13x-6

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Question 117062: Factor
5x^2-13x-6

Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, edjones:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Looking at we can see that the first term is and the last term is where the coefficients are 5 and -6 respectively.

Now multiply the first coefficient 5 and the last coefficient -6 to get -30. Now what two numbers multiply to -30 and add to the middle coefficient -13? Let's list all of the factors of -30:



Factors of -30:
1,2,3,5,6,10,15,30

-1,-2,-3,-5,-6,-10,-15,-30 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations

These factors pair up and multiply to -30
(1)*(-30)
(2)*(-15)
(3)*(-10)
(5)*(-6)
(-1)*(30)
(-2)*(15)
(-3)*(10)
(-5)*(6)

note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number


Now which of these pairs add to -13? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -13

First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-301+(-30)=-29
2-152+(-15)=-13
3-103+(-10)=-7
5-65+(-6)=-1
-130-1+30=29
-215-2+15=13
-310-3+10=7
-56-5+6=1



From this list we can see that 2 and -15 add up to -13 and multiply to -30


Now looking at the expression , replace with (notice adds up to . So it is equivalent to )




Now let's factor by grouping:


Group like terms


Factor out the GCF of out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of out of the second group


Since we have a common term of , we can combine like terms

So factors to


So this also means that factors to (since is equivalent to )

-------------------------------
Answer:

So factors to

Answer by edjones(8007)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
5x^2-13x-6
5*-6=-30 Multiply the 1st and last coefficients.
What factors of -30 when added equal -13? Ans.: -15 & 2
The rest is easy.
5x^2-15x+2x-6
5x(x-3)+2(x-3) Factor by grouping.
(5x+2)(x-3)
.
Ed

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