bronx.system
Junior Member
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2013
- Messages
- 56
hey all i started factoring 3 terms and my answers are always flipped compared to book.
Im having trouble knowing what order the + and - signs go.
factor the following
x^2 - 2x - 8
= (x + 2 )(x - 4 )
i understand that its important where the 2 or 4 go because the middle term is a minus -2x but my question is does it matter where the + and - go before the numbers are added.
first step i write
(x ) (x )
then with the + and - i get stuck and end up just placing the numbers where it makes sense.
the book answer was (x - 4)(x + 2)
is that the same as my answer?
a few questions in a row i keep getting the answers flipped compared to book S:
hope that makes sense been up a while brain mushy
Im having trouble knowing what order the + and - signs go.
factor the following
x^2 - 2x - 8
= (x + 2 )(x - 4 )
i understand that its important where the 2 or 4 go because the middle term is a minus -2x but my question is does it matter where the + and - go before the numbers are added.
first step i write
(x ) (x )
then with the + and - i get stuck and end up just placing the numbers where it makes sense.
the book answer was (x - 4)(x + 2)
is that the same as my answer?
a few questions in a row i keep getting the answers flipped compared to book S:
hope that makes sense been up a while brain mushy