1.How do you factor (-5t^2+50t+5) ? I keep getting (-5)(t-1)(t+1), but when I check it by foiling and multiplying, it doesn't equal the original trinomial.

2. Can I multiply (-3x-2x+8) by (-1) to get rid of the negative coefficient? If I don't, it will be differently factored, but will still be "correct". Which one is the right answer?

5 answers

-5t^2+50t+5
= -5(t^2 - 10t - 1)
that's it

you can't just "get rid of " the negative, you can factor it out, but you must keep it

did you mean that to say:
-3x^2 - 2x + 8 ??
I will assume you did.

= -3(3x^2 + 2y - 8)
= -3(x+4)(x-2)

or

= 3(x+4)(2-x)
can you see what I just did?
For #1, I see what I did. I got the right answer, but then i tried to factor it more, even though it was completely factored.

For #2 you are right, i did mean -3x^2. I am still a little confused, why did you do the whole distributing by three? What we've learned with a trinomial (that has no common factor) is that you use a guess and check method. I can see where I'm wrong about multiplying the whole trinomial by (-1), but I get lost from there. Can you explain?
Sorry let me clarify. Why did you pull 3 out of the trinomial?
Sorry about that 2nd one, I messed that one up badly.
I guess I was somehow focused on that -3

ok, here goes ....

-3x^2 - 2x + 8
= -1(3x^2 + 2x - 8)
= -1((3x - 4)(x + 2)
or
(4 - 3x)(x+2)
Okay that looks right :) Could tell me your steps though? I can see that its right, I just don't really know how you got there.
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