Algebra Examples

Factor: $x^{2} - 5 x - 24$

Step 1

Consider the form $x^{2} + b x + c$ . Find a pair of integers whose product is $c$ and whose sum is $b$ . In this case, whose product is $- 24$ and whose sum is $- 5$ .

$- 8, 3$

Step 2

Write the factored form using these integers.

$(x - 8) (x + 3)$