Question

Factorise: x² + 5x – 104

Answer 1

First find the two numbers whose sum= 5 and product= -104

Clearly, the numbers are 13 and 8

∴ we get, x² + 5x – 104 

= x² + 13x – 8x – 104

= x(x+13) – 8(x+13)

= (x+13) (x-8)