Is it possible to factor y=x^2 +8x+15? If so, what are the factors?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Dec 24, 2015

y=x^2+8x+15= color(green)((x+3)(x+5))

Explanation:

Since (x+a)(x+b) = x^2+(a+b)x+ab

we need to find two numbers a and b
such that
color(white)("XXX")a+b=8
and
color(white)("XXX")ab=15

Checking factors of 15 we quickly come up with 3 and 5 which sum to 8

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