Please factor the following:

( a- 7) ( a+6) =0

a=7      a = -6

Step-by-step explanation:

a^2 -a -42 =0

What 2 numbers multiply to -42 and add to -1

-7 * 6 = -42

-7+6 = -1

( a- 7) ( a+6) =0

You only ask use to factor but since it is equal to zero we can solve using the zero product property

a-7 =0   a+6 =0

a=7      a = -6

(a+6)(a-7)

Step-by-step explanation:

One way you can think of factoring is finding two numbers that multiply to 42 and adding two numbers that will give you -1.

We can write out factors for 42.

42: 1,2,3,6,7,14,21,42

Out of this list, we know that 6 and 7 would be our best choice.

6×-7=-42

6+(-7)=-1

Now, we know that the best factors will be (a+6)(a-7). We can also distribute to check our work.

(a+6)(a-7)                 [distribute by FOIL]

a²-7a+6a-42             [combine like terms]

a²-a-42

We have confirmed that (a+6)(a-7) is the correct factor.