Question
Select the factored form of this expression. \[ x^{2}-3 x-28 \]
Ask by Beck Reid. in the United States
Mar 05,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The factored form of \( x^{2} - 3x - 28 \) is \( (x + 4)(x - 7) \).
Solution
Below is a step-by-step solution to factor the quadratic expression.
### Step 1: Write Down the Expression
We start with the quadratic expression:
\[
x^{2} - 3x - 28
\]
### Step 2: Identify Two Numbers
We need to find two numbers \( a \) and \( b \) such that:
- Their product is equal to the constant term:
\[
a \times b = -28
\]
- Their sum is equal to the coefficient of \( x \):
\[
a + b = -3
\]
### Step 3: Find the Pair that Works
Consider the pair \( 4 \) and \( -7 \):
- Product:
\[
4 \times (-7) = -28
\]
- Sum:
\[
4 + (-7) = -3
\]
The pair \( (4, -7) \) satisfies both conditions.
### Step 4: Write the Factored Form
Using the numbers found, the expression can be factored as:
\[
(x + 4)(x - 7)
\]
### Final Answer
The factored form of the expression \( x^{2} - 3x - 28 \) is:
\[
\boxed{(x+4)(x-7)}
\]
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Beyond the Answer
To factor the expression \( x^{2} - 3x - 28 \), we look for two numbers that multiply to \(-28\) (the constant term) and add up to \(-3\) (the coefficient of the middle term). These numbers are \( -7 \) and \( 4 \). Thus, the expression can be factored as: \[ (x - 7)(x + 4) \] This means that the roots of the expression are \( x = 7 \) and \( x = -4 \). Happy factoring!