Question

question 3 of 10 the first step in the process for factoring the trinomial $x^2 - 4x - 32$ is to: a. find the sum of the factors of 32 b. find the sum of the factors of 4 c. list all the factors of 32 d. list all the factors of 4

Explanation:

To factor the trinomial \(x^2 - 4x - 32\), we use the method of finding two numbers that multiply to the constant term (\(-32\)) and add up to the coefficient of the middle term (\(-4\)). The first step in this process is to list all the factors of the constant term (32, considering the sign later) to find pairs that can give the correct sum and product. So we need to list all the factors of 32 (option C) as the first step. Option A is about sum of factors of 32, which is not the first step. Option B is sum of factors of 4, which is incorrect. Option D is listing factors of 4, which is also incorrect.

Answer:

C. list all the factors of 32