Question

How do you factor the trinomial `x^2 - 6x - 16`?

Answer 1

`(x-8)(x+2)`

Explanation:

To factor the trinomial `x^2-6x-16`

We begin by looking at the factors for the 1st term
`x*x`
and the 3rd term
`1*16`
`2*8`
`4*4`

We begin with
`(x)(x)`
Since the second sign of the trinomial is negative we will be subtracting the factors of the 3rd term which means we must use
`(2)(8)`

When we subtract the signs will be differenet and the larger factor will go with the first sign of the trinomial.
`(-8)(2)`

Now we can create the binomial factors.

`(x-8)(x+2)`