SOLUTION: Hi! I need help on how to divide this question please. x^2+3x-54 BY x+9 This is the first time I have used this website, so I hope you understand how I wrote out the problem.

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: Hi! I need help on how to divide this question please. x^2+3x-54 BY x+9 This is the first time I have used this website, so I hope you understand how I wrote out the problem.      Log On


   



Question 260421: Hi! I need help on how to divide this question please.
x^2+3x-54 BY x+9
This is the first time I have used this website, so I hope you understand how I wrote out the problem. Thank you

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, richwmiller:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
divide this question please.
x^2+3x-54 BY x+9
----------------
Factor:
[(x+9)(x-6)]/(x+9)
---
Cancel to get:
= x-6
=============================================
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

(x^2+3x-54)/ (x+9)
%28x%5E2%2B3x-54%29%2F%28x%2B9%29
You might guess that you can factor the numerator into (x+9) and something else.
9 and what makes 54
9 and 6
but we want 3x not 15 x
so either 9 or 6 must be negative.
but if 9 is negative then we would have -3x
so it must be(x-6)(x+9)/(x+9) and that reduces to x-6
x-6 is the answer
Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping)


Looking at the expression x%5E2%2B3x-54, we can see that the first coefficient is 1, the second coefficient is 3, and the last term is -54.



Now multiply the first coefficient 1 by the last term -54 to get %281%29%28-54%29=-54.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to -54 (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient 3?



To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of -54 (the previous product).



Factors of -54:

1,2,3,6,9,18,27,54

-1,-2,-3,-6,-9,-18,-27,-54



Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.



These factors pair up and multiply to -54.

1*(-54) = -54
2*(-27) = -54
3*(-18) = -54
6*(-9) = -54
(-1)*(54) = -54
(-2)*(27) = -54
(-3)*(18) = -54
(-6)*(9) = -54


Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient 3:



First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-541+(-54)=-53
2-272+(-27)=-25
3-183+(-18)=-15
6-96+(-9)=-3
-154-1+54=53
-227-2+27=25
-318-3+18=15
-69-6+9=3




From the table, we can see that the two numbers -6 and 9 add to 3 (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers -6 and 9 both multiply to -54 and add to 3



Now replace the middle term 3x with -6x%2B9x. Remember, -6 and 9 add to 3. So this shows us that -6x%2B9x=3x.



x%5E2%2Bhighlight%28-6x%2B9x%29-54 Replace the second term 3x with -6x%2B9x.



%28x%5E2-6x%29%2B%289x-54%29 Group the terms into two pairs.



x%28x-6%29%2B%289x-54%29 Factor out the GCF x from the first group.



x%28x-6%29%2B9%28x-6%29 Factor out 9 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.



%28x%2B9%29%28x-6%29 Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term x-6



===============================================================



Answer:



So x%5E2%2B3%2Ax-54 factors to %28x%2B9%29%28x-6%29.



In other words, x%5E2%2B3%2Ax-54=%28x%2B9%29%28x-6%29.



Note: you can check the answer by expanding %28x%2B9%29%28x-6%29 to get x%5E2%2B3%2Ax-54 or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).