document.write( "Question 117062: Factor
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Algebra.Com's Answer #85123 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Looking at \"5x%5E2-13x-6\" we can see that the first term is \"5x%5E2\" and the last term is \"-6\" where the coefficients are 5 and -6 respectively.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now multiply the first coefficient 5 and the last coefficient -6 to get -30. Now what two numbers multiply to -30 and add to the middle coefficient -13? Let's list all of the factors of -30:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Factors of -30:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-1,-2,-3,-5,-6,-10,-15,-30 ...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 -30\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(1)*(-30)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2)*(-15)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(3)*(-10)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(5)*(-6)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-1)*(30)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-2)*(15)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-3)*(10)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-5)*(6)\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 -13? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -13\r
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First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-301+(-30)=-29
2-152+(-15)=-13
3-103+(-10)=-7
5-65+(-6)=-1
-130-1+30=29
-215-2+15=13
-310-3+10=7
-56-5+6=1
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "From this list we can see that 2 and -15 add up to -13 and multiply to -30\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now looking at the expression \"5x%5E2-13x-6\", replace \"-13x\" with \"2x%2B-15x\" (notice \"2x%2B-15x\" adds up to \"-13x\". So it is equivalent to \"-13x\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"5x%5E2%2Bhighlight%282x%2B-15x%29%2B-6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's factor \"5x%5E2%2B2x-15x-6\" by grouping:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%285x%5E2%2B2x%29%2B%28-15x-6%29\" Group like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%285x%2B2%29-3%285x%2B2%29\" Factor out the GCF of \"x\" out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of \"-3\" out of the second group\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-3%29%285x%2B2%29\" Since we have a common term of \"5x%2B2\", we can combine like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"5x%5E2%2B2x-15x-6\" factors to \"%28x-3%29%285x%2B2%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So this also means that \"5x%5E2-13x-6\" factors to \"%28x-3%29%285x%2B2%29\" (since \"5x%5E2-13x-6\" is equivalent to \"5x%5E2%2B2x-15x-6\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Answer:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"5x%5E2-13x-6\" factors to \"%28x-3%29%285x%2B2%29\"
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