Factor the polynomial x^2+3x-10 your answer can be written as (x+a)(x+b) where a
and a equals =?
and b equals =?

Step-by-step explanation:

x² + 3x - 10 = 0

We have to find two numbers which multiply to -10 and have a sum of -3.

Two great numbers which match these conditions are 5 and -2!

5 + (-2) = 3

5 * (-2) = -10

So, now we can factor.

(x + 5)(x - 2) = x² + 3x - 10, right?

Now we know A and B are 5 and -2. (Please keep in mind these are not the solutions or the roots to the quadratic. When solving for the roots in a quadratic, you have to find numbers which make the equation equal to zero. Anything multiplied by zero is zero, so when you input a value into the parentheses which makes the value inside the parentheses zero, the whole equation becomes zero and this is why quadratics have up to two solutions because up to two values can make the equation equal to zero.)