Factor the trinomial?

Question

x^2 - 3x - 4=___

Answer 1

(x+1)(x-4)

Listen in class.

Answer 2

To factor a trinomial in the form of aX^2 +bx +c, you have to look for a set a numbers that, in this case, will add up to -3, and when multiplied give you -4. So there are two possible numbers 1, and -4. Like so, (X+1)(X-4) is your answer. To check, simply use the FOIL method and you should get X^2- 3x- 4.