factor the trinomial below
x^2+5x-24
To factor the trinomial x^2 + 5x - 24, we need to find two numbers that multiply to -24 and add up to 5.
These numbers are 8 and -3, since 8 * -3 = -24 and 8 + (-3) = 5.
Thus, we can rewrite the trinomial as:
x^2 + 8x - 3x - 24
Now, we can factor by grouping:
x(x + 8) - 3(x + 8)
(x - 3)(x + 8)
So the factored form of x^2 + 5x - 24 is (x - 3)(x + 8).