Question

Factor the quadratic expressionx^2 + 5x - 14

Answer 1

Solution:

Given:

$x^2+5x-14$

Using the product-sum to factor the expression, the middle term is split;

$\begin{gathered} x^2+7x-2x-14 \\ \\ Grouping\text{ the terms;} \\ (x^2+7x)(-2x-14) \\ \\ Factor\text{ out the terms;} \\ x(x+7)-2(x+7) \\ =(x-2)(x+7) \end{gathered}$

Therefore, the factored term is;

$(x-2)(x+7)$