Factor the trinomial completely. $m ^ { 2 } - 10 m + 16$
A) $( m + 2 ) ( m - 8 )$
B) $( m + 2 ) ( m + 8 )$
C) $( m - 2 ) ( m + 8 )$
D) $( m - 2 ) ( m - 8 )$
E) not factorable

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The trinomial can be factored into the product of two binomials in the form of $(m-a) (m-b)$, where $a$ and $b$ are two factors whose product is 16 and whose sum is -10. The factors of 16 are 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16. Testing all the possibilities, we find that 2 and 8 are the factors whose sum is -10. Therefore, the trinomial can be factored as $(m-2)(m-8)$.

Factor the Trinomial Completely m2−10m+16m ^ { 2 } - 10 m + 16m2−10m+16

Factor the Trinomial Completely $m ^ { 2 } - 10 m + 16$