factor the basic trinomial:

Question

x^2 - 15x - 54

Answer 1

To factor the trinomial x^2 - 15x - 54, we need to find two numbers that multiply to -54 and add up to -15.

The two numbers that meet these conditions are -18 and 3.

Therefore, the factored form of the trinomial x^2 - 15x - 54 is (x - 18)(x + 3).