Consider the quadratic function that has x-intercepts of –1 and –7 and passes through the point (–2, –20). What is the value of a in the factored form of this function?

With x-intercepts of −1 and −7, the function has the factored form y = a(x + 1)(x + 7). Substitute the point (−2, −20): −20 = a(−2 + 1)(−2 + 7) = −5a, so a = 4. The correct choice is 4.

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