If (x + 2) is a factor of x\(^2\) +px - 10, find the value of P.
Answer Details
To determine the value of P, we need to use the factor theorem, which states that if (x + a) is a factor of a polynomial, then the polynomial evaluated at -a will equal zero.
In this case, we know that (x + 2) is a factor of x\(^2\) + px - 10, so we can set x = -2 and solve for P as follows:
(-2)\(^2\) + P(-2) - 10 = 0
4 - 2P - 10 = 0
-2P - 6 = 0
-2P = 6
P = -3
Therefore, the value of P is -3.