Question

What is the second step in the process for factoring the trinomial x^2-3x-40

Answer 1

You make a factor tree for (-)40 where the factors of -40 are -8 and +5. This becomes (x+5)(x-8) which can be multiplied to get back to the starting point.

Answer 2

Write the factors and add them up.

Explanation:

To factorize the given trinomial
`x^2-3x-40`, you first need to find the factors of -40 such that when multiplied they give -40 and when added they give a result of -3.

The second step in the process of factoring is to write the add the factors up in place of '-3x' to get:

`x^(2) - 8x + 5x - 40`