Factoring Intuition Math Example 4

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

hard

Find two numbers that multiply to

-24

and add to

-2

1
Factor pairs of 24: $(1,24),(2,12),(3,8),(4,6)$ .
2
Need opposite signs with sum $-2$ : try $4$ and $-6$ : $4 \times (-6) = -24$ , $4+(-6) = -2$ ✓

Answer

4 \text{ and } -6

When both the product is negative and the sum is negative, the number with larger absolute value must be the negative one.

About Factoring Intuition

Understanding factoring as finding what multiplies together to give an expression.

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