document.write( "Question 423330: how do i factor a trinomial such as: xsquared - 14xy -51ysquared \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #295287 by Theo(13342)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! your trinomial is:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 14xy - 51y^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your factors will be in the form of:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-ay) * (x+by)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "multiply these factors together and you will get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + bxy - axy - aby^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "combine like terms to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + (b-a)xy - aby^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "since your original equation is:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 14xy -51y^2, this mans that:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(b-a) must be equal to -14 \n" ); document.write( "ab must be equal to 51\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "it just so happens that if a = 17 and b = 3, then you will get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + (3-17)xy - (3*17)y^2 which will become:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 14xy - 51y^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "so, you need to make a = 17 and b = 3\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "the general form of your factors is:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-ay) * (x+by)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "substitute 17 for a and 3 for b to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-17y) * (x+3y)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "multiply these factors together to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 3xy - 17xy - 51y^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "combine like terms to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 14xy - 51y^2\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "your factors are:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(x-17y) * (x+3y)\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |