document.write( "Question 644099: Find a possible middle term to make this polynomial factorable: x^2+ blank+ 20? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #404819 by Edwin McCravy(20055)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "Start with several of these, with x's as \"the firsts\"\r\n" );
document.write( "since x times x is x², the first term.\r\n" );
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document.write( "(x    )(x    ) \r\n" );
document.write( "(x    )(x    ) \r\n" );
document.write( "(x    )(x    )\r\n" );
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document.write( "Think of the ways to factor 20 using two factors, 1·20, 2·10, 4·5\r\n" );
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document.write( "put those in for \"the lasts\"    \r\n" );
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document.write( "(x   1)(x   20) \r\n" );
document.write( "(x   2)(x   10) \r\n" );
document.write( "(x   4)(x   5) \r\n" );
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document.write( "Put +'s between because everything has a +.  Then FOIL them out\r\n" );
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document.write( "(x + 1)(x + 20) = x² + 21x +20\r\n" );
document.write( "(x + 2)(x + 10) = x² + 12x + 20 \r\n" );
document.write( "(x + 4)(x + 5)  = x² +  9x + 20\r\n" );
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document.write( "So the middle term could be 21x, 12x or 9x\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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