SOLUTION: Factor trinomial b^3-5b^2-14b

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Question 442453: Factor trinomial b^3-5b^2-14b
Answer by swincher4391(1107) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Notice that there is a "b" common in every term of this trinomial.
Thus we can factor out a b. So b%5E3-5b%5E2-14b+=+b%28b%5E2-5b-14%29
Now we must factor that quadratic. What multiplies to -14 and adds to -5?
Here are the factors of 14.. plus or minus
1 14
2 7
Ah ha! 2-7 = -5.
So our factorization would be (b+2)(b-7)
Going back, that means our final factorization is b%2A%28b%2B2%29%2A%28b-7%29