Factoring Quadratics – in my own words

5x² + 7x + 2             

    1.  Circle the coefficient in the 1^st term and the # in the 3^rd term.   

         Multiply them together.  5 × 2 = 10

    2.  Find the factors of 10. (1,10 & 2,5) 

    3.  Circle the 2^nd term.  Which multiples in step 2 equal 7?  (2,5)

    4.  Rewrite breaking the second term apart with the answer from step 3.

         5x² + 2x + 5x + 2

    5. Distribute the above into 2 parenthesis.

         (5x² + 2x) + (5x + 2)

     6. Now factor out into binomials.

         5x(x+1) + 2(x+1)

      7.Both binomials are the same keep (x+1)    And take (5x + 2) for the second term.

             (x+1) (5x+2)