How do you factor the trinomial x2 plus 4x minus 10?

Answer 1

I assume you mean

x(squared) + 4x - 10.

Solving this isn't extremely difficult if you know the quadratic formula.

first of all, remember the form ax(squared) + bx + c

you are currently in that form.

so, the formula is (-b +OR- radical(b(squared) - 4ac)) /2a

so, using the formula, you will get

(-4 + or - radical(16 - 4(1)(-10)))/2(1)

this simplifies to

(-4 + or - radical(56)) / 2

this can simplify to

(-4 + or - radical(4) * radical(14)) / 2

the 2 in the denominator cancels out with the -4 and the 2(comes from radical(4)) in the numerator.

this leaves us with

-2 + or - radical(14)

these are the two solutions.

x= -2 + radical(14)

x = -2 - radical(14)

this may seem complex since it's hard to explain in this way, but I promise you will understand it.

here is an easier to understand version of the quadratic formula.