Question 251546:  8x^2-22x+5= 
 Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
 
Looking at the expression  , we can see that the first coefficient is  , the second coefficient is  , and the last term is  .
 
 
 
Now multiply the first coefficient   by the last term   to get  .
 
 
 
Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to   (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient  ?
 
 
 
To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of   (the previous product).
 
 
 
Factors of  :
 
1,2,4,5,8,10,20,40
 
-1,-2,-4,-5,-8,-10,-20,-40
 
 
 
Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.
 
 
 
These factors pair up and multiply to  .
 
1*40 = 40 
2*20 = 40 
4*10 = 40 
5*8 = 40 
(-1)*(-40) = 40 
(-2)*(-20) = 40 
(-4)*(-10) = 40 
(-5)*(-8) = 40
 
 
Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient  :
 
 
 
| First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | 40 | 1+40=41 |  | 2 | 20 | 2+20=22 |  | 4 | 10 | 4+10=14 |  | 5 | 8 | 5+8=13 |  | -1 | -40 | -1+(-40)=-41 |  | -2 | -20 | -2+(-20)=-22 |  | -4 | -10 | -4+(-10)=-14 |  | -5 | -8 | -5+(-8)=-13 |  
 
 
 
 
From the table, we can see that the two numbers   and   add to   (the middle coefficient).
 
 
 
So the two numbers   and   both multiply to   and add to  
 
 
 
Now replace the middle term   with  . Remember,   and   add to  . So this shows us that  .
 
 
 
  Replace the second term   with  .
 
 
 
  Group the terms into two pairs.
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF   from the first group.
 
 
 
  Factor out   from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis.
 
 
 
  Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term  
 
 
 
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Answer:
 
 
 
So   factors to  .
 
 
 
In other words,  .
 
 
 
Note: you can check the answer by expanding   to get   or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical). 
 
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