Which statement is true of x2 + 8x – 6?

To test whether (x − a) is a factor, substitute a into x² + 8x − 6; the result must be 0. Substituting 2, −2, and 4 gives 14, −18, and 42, respectively, so choices A, B, and C are not factors. The quadratic has no integer roots (its discriminant is 8² − 4(1)(−6) = 88, not a perfect square), so it does not factor over the integers; choice D, “The polynomial is prime,” is true.

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