Question

How do you factor `x^2-10x-24`?

Answer 1

Factors are `(x-12)(x+2)`

Explanation:

To factorize `ax^2+bx+c=0`, we split `ac` into two factors, whose sum is `b`.

In the polynomial `x^2−10x−24`, the product is `-24` and hence such factors would be `-12` and `2`. Hence splitting middle term this way, we get

`x^2−10x−24=x^2−12x+2x−24` i.e.

`x(x-12)+2(x-12)` or

`(x-12)(x+2)`