Question

2x^2-9x-5=0

Is it possible to combine 2x squared with 9x?
Not sure how to tackle solving this one.

Answer 1

On these types of questions I always like to do the opposite of the FOIL (First Outer Inner Last) method.
Since the first coefficient is 2 we know we have to have a 2x and an x and then the -5 at the end will result in only 5 and a 1 (one has to be postive and one has to be negative).
This leaves you with
(2x and 1)(x and 5)
OR
(2x and 5)(x and 1)
By process of elimination, I figured out it was (2x+1)(x-5)=0.
You can then set each equation equal to 0 and solve for x.