How do you factor the trinomial #m^2-15m+50#?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-21T13:56:25

#m^2-15m+50 = (m-10)(m-5)#

In general note that:

#(m-a)(m-b) = m^2-(a+b)m+ab#

So if you are faced with the task of factoring a monic polynomial like:

#m^2-15m+50#

you can look for a pair of factors of #50# with sum #15#.

We find #10xx5 = 50# and #10+5=15#

So:

#m^2-15m+50 = (m-10)(m-5)#