document.write( "Question 133695: Solve each equation by factoring.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #97817 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's see if we can factor \"-2x%5E2-7x-15\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Looking at \"-2x%5E2-7x-15\" we can see that the first term is \"-2x%5E2\" and the last term is \"-15\" where the coefficients are -2 and -15 respectively.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now multiply the first coefficient -2 and the last coefficient -15 to get 30. Now what two numbers multiply to 30 and add to the middle coefficient -7? 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 two negative numbers multiplied together make a positive number\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now which of these pairs add to -7? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -7\r
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First NumberSecond NumberSum
1301+30=31
2152+15=17
3103+10=13
565+6=11
-1-30-1+(-30)=-31
-2-15-2+(-15)=-17
-3-10-3+(-10)=-13
-5-6-5+(-6)=-11
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "None of these pairs of factors add to -7. So the expression \"-2x%5E2-7x-15\" cannot be factored\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So make sure that you copied the problem down correctly
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