Question

How do you factor \[y={{x}^{2}}-7x+10\]?

Answer 1

Hint: For answering this question we will use factorization. Factorization is the process of deriving factors of a number which divides the given number evenly. For this question we will split the constant term and we will use the sum product pattern of splitting and then we will simplify the equation using the \[\Rightarrow {{x}^{2}}-{{a}^{2}}=\left( x+a \right)\left( x-a \right)\] formula and simplify until we get the solution.

Complete step by step solution:
Now considering from the question we have an expression \[{{x}^{2}}-7x+10\] for which we need to derive the factors.
We can factor the \[{{x}^{2}}-7x+10\] by below method:
Given equation is in the form of \[a{{x}^{2}}+bx+c=0\].
First we have to divide the constant term in the equation which is \[10\] into the product of the two numbers and must make sure that the sum of the two numbers must be equal to the coefficient of\[x\].
Now, the constant term \[10\] can be split into the product of the two numbers in two ways those are\[10\times 1,5\times 2\].
But here we have to take the splitting as \[5\times 2\] as the sum of 5 and 2 must be equal to the coefficient of \[x\].
So, \[10\]can be split into products of \[2\]and \[5\].
Their sum is also equal to \[7\]which is equal to the coefficient of \[x\].
So, the given question can be factored as follows.
\[\Rightarrow {{x}^{2}}-7x+10\]
\[\Rightarrow {{x}^{2}}-5x-2x+10\]
\[\Rightarrow x\left( x-5 \right)-2\left( x-5 \right)\]
\[\Rightarrow \left( x-2 \right)\left( x-5 \right)\]
Therefore, the factors will be \[\left( x-2 \right),\left( x-5 \right)\].

Note: During answering questions of this type we should be sure with our calculations. We can also use the formulae for obtaining the roots of the quadratic equation $a{{x}^{2}}+bx+c=0$ and solve the question. So, the roots of the quadratic equation given as $\dfrac{-b\pm \sqrt{{{b}^{2}}-4ac}}{2a}$ then if the two solutions are $p,q$ then the factors will be $\left( x-p \right)\left( x-q \right)$ . For \[ {{x}^{2}}-7x+10\] the roots are \[\dfrac{7\pm \sqrt{49-4\left( 10 \right)}}{2}=\dfrac{7\pm 3}{2}=5,2\] then the factors will be \[ \left( x-2 \right),\left( x-5 \right)\].