SOLUTION: Find all positive integral values of "k" for which the trinomial can be factored. A.) y^2+8y+k B.)z^2+7z+k

Algebra.Com
Question 792999: Find all positive integral values of "k" for which the trinomial can be factored.
A.) y^2+8y+k
B.)z^2+7z+k

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20055)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
y²+8y+k

Suppose it factors as

(y+a)(y+b) where a and b are positive integers.

Then FOIL-ing that out,

y²+by+ay+ab

Factor y out of the middle two terms:

y²+(b+a)y+ab

Compare that to 

y²+8y+k

So the coefficient of y which is b+a=8, and the last term ab=k

b   a   b+a   ab=k       factorization
1   7    8     7=k    y²+8y+7 = (y+1)(y+7)
2   6    8    12=k   y²+8y+12 = (y+2)(y+6)
3   5    8    15=k   y²+8y+15 = (y+3)(y+5)
4   4    8    16=k   y²+8y+16 = (y+4)(y+4) = (y+4)²

Answer: all positive integral valuse for k are 7,12,15, and 16

Now you do the other one the same way.

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

Factor. Find all POSITIVE integral values of k for which the trinomial can be factored. (answered by user_dude2008)
Find all the integral values for k for which the trinomial can be factored? z^2+kx+12... (answered by Earlsdon)
Find all the positive values for k for which each of the following can be factored... (answered by stanbon)
find all positive values for k for which each of the following can be factored.... (answered by Edwin McCravy)
Find all positive values for k for which each of the following can be factored. x^2 + (answered by Nate,ptaylor)
Find all positive values for k for which each of the following can be factored,... (answered by checkley71)
Find all positive values for k for which each of the following can be factored.... (answered by checkley71)
Find all positive values of k so that the trinomial can be factored. Show the... (answered by greenestamps)
Find all positive values for k for which the following can be factored. x^2 + x - k (answered by stanbon)