Question

How do you factor the expressions `y^2-11y+30`?

Answer 1

Find the factors, choose the factors that add up to the coefficient of the second term, and put them in parentheses.

Explanation:

In order to factor this expression, we must first find the integer factors of the constant (30). The factor "sets" are: 1 and 30, 2 and 15, 3 and 10, 5 and 6. Next, we'll find which of these factors add up to the coefficient of the second term (-11). Since the coefficient is negative, the factors that we'll put in the binomial will also be negative. `-5 + -6 =-11`, so we'll use the factors 5 and 6. We'll put the two terms into parentheses. The binomials will be `(y-5)(y-6)`. That's how you factor the expression.