document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=153051>Question 153051</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please explain how to reverse FOIL when factoring a polynomial of the form ax(squared) + bx + c when a = 1 and when a does not = 1. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #112498 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=112498\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Example:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If a = 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 + 5x + 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The procedure is called \"the AC Method\".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1st: think of two numbers whose product is AC = 1*6 = 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and whose sum is B = 5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The numbers are 2 and 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd: Replace the B-term by the sum you have found:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 _+ 2x + 3x + 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3rd: Factor and 1st two and the last two terms separately:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x(x+2) + 3(x+2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4th: Factor again to get the answer:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+2)(x+3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-------------------------------------------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Example: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "a not equal to 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x^2 - x - 21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1st: think of two numbers whose product is AC = 2*21 = 42<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and whose sum is B = -1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The numbers are -7 and 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2nd: replace the B-term with the sum you found:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x^2 -7x+6x -21<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3rd: factor the 1st two and the last two terms separately:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x(2x-7) +3(2x-7)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4th: Facor again<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2x-7)(x+3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );