This is a basic factoring problem. A 2nd degree trinomial or quadratic trinomial (ax^2 + bx + c) has two first degree binomials as factors (x+a)(x+b).
A rectangle's area, if represented as a quadratic trinomial, has as its length and width the binomial factors.
This problem gives one of the binomial factors (x-8). The other factor is the length, and when multiplied by (x-8) results in the given quadratic trinomial.
Remember it has to be multiplied using FOIL - First times first, outside times outside, inside times inside, and last times last.
This solution is (x + a) such that a*(-8) = -24 and a+(-8) =-5. That's 3.
The length of this rectangle is (x+3). To check, multiply (x+3)(x-8) using FOIL.
Contact fcabanski@hotmail.com for online, private tutoring, or personalized problem solving (quick for groups of problems.)
(
