SOLUTION: i need help with my math bigg time! ok i believe that it is called lesson 10-5 factoring to solve quadratic equations. i need very detailed instructions on how to do this thank you

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Question 37506: i need help with my math bigg time! ok i believe that it is called lesson 10-5 factoring to solve quadratic equations. i need very detailed instructions on how to do this thank you.
Prentice Hall Mathmatica Algebre One. Chapter 10 lesson 5
Amanda
Answer by lyra(94) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
It would be easier if you had provided and example, but here you go:
x%5E2-x-2=0
Factoring:
%28x-y%29%28w%2Bz%29
In this case, we want the first terms (x and w) to be x%5E2. We want the multiplication of the outside terms (x and z) plus the inside terms (-y and w) to be -x. Finally, we want the last terms (-y and z) to be -2. A good way to remember this is F O I L = Firsts Outsides Insides Lasts

So in this case:
x%5E2-x-2=0
%28x++%29%28x++%29 *Because we need x%5E2
To get -1 we could have:
%28x-2%29%28x%2B1%29 *Because outsides (x and 1)=x + insides (-2 and x)=-2x+x=-1x=-x so that works.
Now to check, we FOIL:
%28x-2%29%28x%2B1%29
x%2Ax%2Bx-2x-2=x%5E2-x-2 *This is correct!!!
You can also solve equations like this by the quadratic formula. If you have any more questions feel free to contact me!
Smiles,
lyra