Question 115073


Looking at {{{x^2-11x-60}}} we can see that the first term is {{{x^2}}} and the last term is {{{-60}}} where the coefficients are 1 and -60 respectively.


Now multiply the first coefficient 1 and the last coefficient -60 to get -60. Now what two numbers multiply to -60 and add to the  middle coefficient -11? Let's list all of the factors of -60:




Factors of -60:

1,2,3,4,5,6,10,12,15,20,30,60


-1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-10,-12,-15,-20,-30,-60 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations


These factors pair up and multiply to -60

(1)*(-60)

(2)*(-30)

(3)*(-20)

(4)*(-15)

(5)*(-12)

(6)*(-10)

(-1)*(60)

(-2)*(30)

(-3)*(20)

(-4)*(15)

(-5)*(12)

(-6)*(10)


note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number



Now which of these pairs add to -11? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -11


<table border="1"><th>First Number</th><th>Second Number</th><th>Sum</th><tr><td align="center">1</td><td align="center">-60</td><td>1+(-60)=-59</td></tr><tr><td align="center">2</td><td align="center">-30</td><td>2+(-30)=-28</td></tr><tr><td align="center">3</td><td align="center">-20</td><td>3+(-20)=-17</td></tr><tr><td align="center">4</td><td align="center">-15</td><td>4+(-15)=-11</td></tr><tr><td align="center">5</td><td align="center">-12</td><td>5+(-12)=-7</td></tr><tr><td align="center">6</td><td align="center">-10</td><td>6+(-10)=-4</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-1</td><td align="center">60</td><td>-1+60=59</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-2</td><td align="center">30</td><td>-2+30=28</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-3</td><td align="center">20</td><td>-3+20=17</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-4</td><td align="center">15</td><td>-4+15=11</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-5</td><td align="center">12</td><td>-5+12=7</td></tr><tr><td align="center">-6</td><td align="center">10</td><td>-6+10=4</td></tr></table>



From this list we can see that 4 and -15 add up to -11 and multiply to -60



Now looking at the expression {{{x^2-11x-60}}}, replace {{{-11x}}} with {{{4x+-15x}}} (notice {{{4x+-15x}}} adds up to {{{-11x}}}. So it is equivalent to {{{-11x}}})


{{{x^2+highlight(4x+-15x)+-60}}}



Now let's factor {{{x^2+4x-15x-60}}} by grouping:



{{{(x^2+4x)+(-15x-60)}}} Group like terms



{{{x(x+4)-15(x+4)}}} Factor out the GCF of {{{x}}} out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of {{{-15}}} out of the second group



{{{(x-15)(x+4)}}} Since we have a common term of {{{x+4}}}, we can combine like terms


So {{{x^2+4x-15x-60}}} factors to {{{(x-15)(x+4)}}}



So this also means that {{{x^2-11x-60}}} factors to {{{(x-15)(x+4)}}} (since {{{x^2-11x-60}}} is equivalent to {{{x^2+4x-15x-60}}})


-------------------------------

Answer:


So {{{x^2-11x-60}}} factors to {{{(x-15)(x+4)}}}