SOLUTION: State which method should be applied as the first step for factoring the polnomial 2a^2+9a+10

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Question 94214: State which method should be applied as the first step for factoring the polnomial 2a^2+9a+10
Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
FIRST STEP IS TO FIND THE FACTORS OF 2 & 10
2=1*2,-1*-2
10=1*10,-1*-10,2*5,-2*-5
NOW FIND A SET OF FACTORS SUCH THAT THE SUM OF THE PRODUCTS=9.
TRY 1*1+2*10=1+20=21 NOT AN ANSWER
TRY 1*5+2*2=5+4=9 LOOKS LIKE AN ANSWER. THUS WE HAVE
(X+2)(2X+5) ANSWER.