How do you factor the trinomial #5x^2 + 5x - 10 #?

1 Answer
Mar 16, 2016

#5(x+2)(x-1) #

Explanation:

Let us understand the standard form of a trinomial.

#ax^2+bx+c#

In this case, 5 is the #a# term, 5 is the #b# term, and -10 is the #c# term.

All of these terms have one term in common-- 5. We can divide each term in this trinomial by 5, and multiply it to the overall equation.

#5(x^2+x-2)#

Now there is a simple trinomial inside the parentheses.

We must find two numbers that multiply to -2 and add to 1. These are +2 and -1.

Write these as binomials

#5(x+2) (x-1)#

This is your final answer.