Question

Find the zeros of the function f(x) = x2 - 5x - 6 by factoring.
What is the largest zero of the function? Enter a number only.

Answer 1

Hello,

the greatest zero is 6.

x²-5x-6=x²+x-6x-6=x(x+1)-6(x+1)=(x+1)(x-6)
roots are -1 and 6.

Answer 2

We are asked to factor the given trinomial. In this case, the second term coefficient is equal to the the negative sum of the roots of the equation while the third coefficient is equal to the negative product of the roots. Hence the factors are (x-6) and (x+1). The larger zero is 6.