Question

Is it possible to factor `y=9x^2 - 17x - 85`? If so, what are the factors?

Answer 1

To check if it is possible to factorize a square trinomial you have to calculate the determinant:

`Delta = b^2-4ac`

Here we have:

`Delta=17^2-4*9*85=289-3060==-2771`

The discriminant is negative, so the trinomial has no roots (i.e. it cannot be factorized)