How do you factor #-24-10x+x^2#?

1 Answer
Feb 15, 2017

#(x-12)(x+2)#

Explanation:

An expression is not comfortable to work with if the first term is negative. Let's re-arrange the expression, keeping the signs with the correct terms.

#-24-10x+x^2 = x^2 -10x -24#

Find factors of #24# which subtract to make 10.
These will be #12 and 2#
The greater number must be negative: #(-12+2 = -10)#

#(x-12)(x+2)#