a² + 10a + 16
Find two numbers whose product equals 16 and sum equals 10:
Product = 16 Sum = 10
1 * 16 1 + 16 = 17 doesn't work
2 * 8 2 + 8 = 10 THIS WORKS!
4 * 4 4 + 4 = 8 doesn't work
Since 2 & 8 satisfy our requirements, those are the values that go into the parentheses.
Answer: (a + 2)(a + 8)
Note: when there is a coefficient for a², a different method is used to find the factors.