Joe wrote (6x -10)(x + 1) = 6x2 + ___x -10. He needs help find the coefficient of the x term. What is the coefficient of the x term?

Question

 Joe wrote (6x -10)(x + 1) = 6x2 + ___x -10. He needs help find the coefficient of the x term. What is the coefficient of the x term? i dont understand it

Answer 1

Hi Cindi,

 

You will want to expand the left-hand side of the equation and compare the coefficients of the powers of X.

 

(6X - 10)(X + 1) = 6X² + _  X - 10

6X² + 6X - 10X -10 = 6X² + _ X - 10

6X²  - 4X -10 = 6X² + _ X - 10

 

The coefficient of X is -4

Answer 2

(6x - 10)(x + 1)

6x² + 6x - 10x - 10        FOIL

6x² - 4x - 10

 

-4 is the coefficient of the x term.