Write the quadratic equation whose roots are 5 and -4, and whose leading coefficient is 1.

Question

Write the quadratic equation whose roots are 5 and -4, and whose leading coefficient is 1.

(Use the letter x to represent the variable.)

Answer 1

If the roots are 5 and -4, the factors are (x - the roots). So the factors are (x-5) and (x+4). The leading coefficient tells us what the factors are multiplied by.

Therefore, the equation is (1) (x-5)(x+4) = x^2 -x -20