Question

How do you factor `x^3 - 2x^2 - 35x`?

Answer 1

`x(x-7)(x+5)`

Explanation:

First, factor out the GCF (x)

`x(x^2-2x-35) rarr` Now you can use several different methods to factor the `x^2-2x-35`. You can use the "big X" method, the quadratic formula, or graphing.

Here I'll use the "big X" method.

Quadratic equation form: `ax^2+bx+c`

Big X method: find two numbers that multiply to `a*c`, in this case -35 (`1*-35`) and add up to `b`, in this case `-2`.

`-7*5=-35`

`-7+5=-2`

The two numbers are -7 and 5

`x^2-2x-35` can be factored to `(x-7)(x+5)`

`x(x-7)(x+5)`

Answer 2

`x`(`x-7`)(`x+5`)

Explanation:

you take the `x` as a common factor to be:
`x`(`x^2-2x-35`)=0
then factor out what's between the brackets:
`x`(`x-7`)(`x+5`)