document.write( "Question 251213: \"x%5E2+-+6xy+-+40y%5E2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I do not understand how to do this. Its frustrating because I think I understand but I am still getting the answer wrong. Please help!
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Algebra.Com's Answer #182943 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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\n" ); document.write( "Looking at \"x%5E2-6xy-40y%5E2\" we can see that the first term is \"x%5E2\" and the last term is \"-40y%5E2\" where the coefficients are 1 and -40 respectively.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now multiply the first coefficient 1 and the last coefficient -40 to get -40. Now what two numbers multiply to -40 and add to the middle coefficient -6? Let's list all of the factors of -40:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Factors of -40:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "1,2,4,5,8,10,20,40\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-1,-2,-4,-5,-8,-10,-20,-40 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "These factors pair up and multiply to -40\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(1)*(-40)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2)*(-20)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(4)*(-10)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(5)*(-8)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-1)*(40)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-2)*(20)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-4)*(10)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-5)*(8)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now which of these pairs add to -6? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -6\r
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First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-401+(-40)=-39
2-202+(-20)=-18
4-104+(-10)=-6
5-85+(-8)=-3
-140-1+40=39
-220-2+20=18
-410-4+10=6
-58-5+8=3
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "From this list we can see that 4 and -10 add up to -6 and multiply to -40\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now looking at the expression \"x%5E2-6xy-40y%5E2\", replace \"-6xy\" with \"4xy-10xy\" (notice \"4xy-10xy\" combines back to \"-6xy\". So it is equivalent to \"-6xy\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2Bhighlight%284xy-10xy%29-40y%5E2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's factor \"x%5E2%2B4xy-10xy-40y%5E2\" by grouping:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%5E2%2B4xy%29%2B%28-10xy-40y%5E2%29\" Group like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%28x%2B4y%29-10y%28x%2B4y%29\" Factor out the GCF of \"x\" out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of \"-10y\" out of the second group\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-10y%29%28x%2B4y%29\" Since we have a common term of \"x%2B4y\", we can combine like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"x%5E2%2B4xy-10xy-40y%5E2\" factors to \"%28x-10y%29%28x%2B4y%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So this also means that \"x%5E2-6xy-40y%5E2\" factors to \"%28x-10y%29%28x%2B4y%29\" (since \"x%5E2-6xy-40y%5E2\" is equivalent to \"x%5E2%2B4xy-10xy-40y%5E2\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Answer:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"x%5E2-6xy-40y%5E2\" factors to \"%28x-10y%29%28x%2B4y%29\"
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