document.write( "Question 897284: How do I factor
\n" ); document.write( "10x^2-160 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #544055 by KMST(5328) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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First, look for common factors:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"10x%5E2-160=10%28x%5E2-16%29\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "Next, see if you have a \"special product, such as a perfect square, or a difference of squares.
\n" ); document.write( "Here you have a difference of squares:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"10%28x%5E2-16%29=10%28x%5E2-4%5E2%29=highlight%2810%28x%2B4%29%28x-4%29%29\"$ .\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you did not recognize a special product, you would try to find factors
\n" ); document.write( "that multiply to give you $\"x%5E2-16\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "You know that it would be something like
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2Ba%29%28x%2Bb%29\"$ , with two numbners $\"a\"$ and $\"b\"$ that you have to find.
\n" ); document.write( "Since $\"%28x%2Ba%29%28x%2Bb%29=x%5E2%2Bbx%2Bax%2Bab=x%5E2%2B%28a%2Bb%29x%2Bab\"$ ,
\n" ); document.write( "and that has to equal $\"x%5E2-16\"$ ,
\n" ); document.write( "you are looking for numbers that make the coefficients the same.
\n" ); document.write( "It must be $\"a%2Bb=0\"$ and $\"ab=-16\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "To make $\"ab=-16\"$ the numbers for $\"a\"$ and $\"b\"$ muat be
\n" ); document.write( "either -1 and 16,
\n" ); document.write( "or 1 and-16,
\n" ); document.write( "or -1 and 8,
\n" ); document.write( "or 2 and -8,
\n" ); document.write( "or -4 and 4.
\n" ); document.write( "The only pair that adds up to 0 is -4 and 4, so
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2-16=%28x-4%29%28x%2B4%29\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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