Question 4 • Common Core Algebra I B-IC
To factor x² + 6x − 27 by splitting the middle term, find two numbers whose product is −27 and whose sum is 6. Those numbers are 9 and −3, so the four-term polynomial is x² + 9x − 3x − 27. Grouping gives x(x + 9) − 3(x + 9) = (x + 9)(x − 3), which is choice C.
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