document.write( "Question 531598: How do I factor:
\n" ); document.write( "7-6b-b^2=
\n" ); document.write( "? Thank you \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #350536 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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How do I factor:
\n" ); document.write( "7-6b-b^2=
\n" ); document.write( "We usually write it
\n" ); document.write( "-b^2 - 6b + 7 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Easier to factor if b^2 is positive, multiply by -1 and you have
\n" ); document.write( "b^2 + 6b - 7 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "-7 only has two possible factors, we know one is neg and one positive
\n" ); document.write( "(b _ 1)(b _ 7) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Choose the signs that will give you 6 as the coefficient of b
\n" ); document.write( "(b - 1)(b + 7) = 0
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check this by FOILing (b+7)(b-1) = b^2 - b + 7b - 7 = b^2 + 6b - 7
\n" ); document.write( "Multiply by -1 to get the original problem -b^2 - 6b + 7 \n" ); document.write( "

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