Question 396661
"Trying to explain how to split the middle term when solving quadratic equations to my 16 yr old now taking algebra.

Example: 7a(squared)+ 53a + 28

My instinct is to factor it out to:
(7a + 49a +4) + (1a + 4a + 7)

but this is not working when you multiply it out... I just can't quite remember how to split the middle term 

Thanks"


7a^2 + 53a + 28 --> you want to factor this, this is not an equation but a trinomial (a 3-term polynomial), if set to zero it would be a quadratic equation
(7a + 4)(a + 7) by FOIL (First Outer Inner Last) this is 7a^2 + 49a + 4a + 28
which adds to the mentioned trinomial