How do you factor #5x^2 + -11x + -8#?

1 Answer
Sep 28, 2015

#5x^2+ -11x + -8x# as no proper (Real-rational) factors

Explanation:

#5, 11, and 8# have no common integer factors so the only other possibility is to factor the expression.

You could try to use the quadratic formula for roots but examining the discriminant (the #sqrt(b^2-4ac)#) gives #sqrt(121-160) = sqrt(-39)# indicating that there are no Real roots.