How do you factor #x^2 +8x -24#?
1 Answer
Aug 28, 2016
Explanation:
The difference of squares identity can be written:
#a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)#
Use this with
#x^2+8x-24#
#=x^2+8x+16-40#
#=(x+4)^2-(2sqrt(10))^2#
#=((x+4)-2sqrt(10))((x+4)+2sqrt(10))#
#=(x+4-2sqrt(10))(x+4+2sqrt(10))#