b) Solve x ^ 2 + 5x - 14 = 0

Answer :

[tex]x^2 +5x -14 =0\\\\\implies x^2 +7x -2x -14 =0\\\\\implies x(x+7) -2(x+7)=0\\\\\implies (x-2)(x+7) =0\\\\\implies x =2~~ \text{or}~~ x =-7[/tex]

Answer:

x = -7 and x = 2

Step-by-step explanation:

x ^ 2 + 5x - 14 = 0 can be factored as follows:  (x + 7)(x - 2).  Note how 7x - 2x = 5x.

Setting each factor = to 0 and solving for x, we get x = -7 and x = 2.