How do you factor y=x2+8x9 ?

1 Answer
Apr 2, 2016

y=x2+8x9 y=(x+9)(x1)

Explanation:

As there is no coefficient of x2 so we are only looking for factors of 9 where their difference is 8.

Consider the factors 1 and 9

We know that 1×9=9. So that is ok!

We also know that 91=8 So that is ok as well!

So we have the general form of (x+?)(x+?)

The 8 from 8x is positive so for the difference we need 9 to be positive and the 1 to be negative so that we end up with 91=8

(x+9)(x1)

Just as a check lets multiply out the brackets

x(x1)+9(x1)

x2x+9x9

x2+8x9 Works ok!
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y=x2+8x9 y=(x+9)(x1)