<PRE><B>Question 299535</B>


Looking at the expression {{{x^2+8x-20}}}, we can see that the first coefficient is {{{1}}}, the second coefficient is {{{8}}}, and the last term is {{{-20}}}.



Now multiply the first coefficient {{{1}}} by the last term {{{-20}}} to get {{{(1)(-20)=-20}}}.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to {{{-20}}} (the previous product) &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;and&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; add to the second coefficient {{{8}}}?



To find these two numbers, we need to list &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;all&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; of the factors of {{{-20}}} (the previous product).



Factors of {{{-20}}}:

1,2,4,5,10,20

-1,-2,-4,-5,-10,-20



Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.



These factors pair up and multiply to {{{-20}}}.

1*(-20) = -20
2*(-10) = -20
4*(-5) = -20
(-1)*(20) = -20
(-2)*(10) = -20
(-4)*(5) = -20


Now let&#39;s add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient {{{8}}}:



&lt;table border=&quot;1&quot;&gt;&lt;th&gt;First Number&lt;/th&gt;&lt;th&gt;Second Number&lt;/th&gt;&lt;th&gt;Sum&lt;/th&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-20&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;1+(-20)=-19&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;2&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-10&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;2+(-10)=-8&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;4&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-5&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;4+(-5)=-1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;20&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-1+20=19&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;-2&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;10&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;-2+10=8&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-4&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;5&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-4+5=1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/table&gt;



From the table, we can see that the two numbers {{{-2}}} and {{{10}}} add to {{{8}}} (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers {{{-2}}} and {{{10}}} both multiply to {{{-20}}} &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;and&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; add to {{{8}}}



Now replace the middle term {{{8x}}} with {{{-2x+10x}}}. Remember, {{{-2}}} and {{{10}}} add to {{{8}}}. So this shows us that {{{-2x+10x=8x}}}.



{{{x^2+highlight(-2x+10x)-20}}} Replace the second term {{{8x}}} with {{{-2x+10x}}}.



{{{(x^2-2x)+(10x-20)}}} Group the terms into two pairs.



{{{x(x-2)+(10x-20)}}} Factor out the GCF {{{x}}} from the first group.



{{{x(x-2)+10(x-2)}}} Factor out {{{10}}} 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.



{{{(x+10)(x-2)}}} Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term {{{x-2}}}



===============================================================



Answer:



So {{{x^2+8x-20}}} factors to {{{(x+10)(x-2)}}}.



In other words, {{{x^2+8x-20=(x+10)(x-2)}}}.



Note: you can check the answer by expanding {{{(x+10)(x-2)}}} to get {{{x^2+8x-20}}} or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).
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