Step 1: Identify constants $ a $ , $ b $ and $ c $.
$ a $ is a number in front of the $ x^2 $ term $ b $ is a number in front of the $ x $ term and $ c $ is a constant. In this case:
Step 2: Multiply the leading coefficient $\color{blue}{ a = 2 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = -55} $.
$$ a \cdot c = -110 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = -110 $ and add to $ b = 17 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ -110 $ are:
| PRODUCT = -110 | |
| -1 110 | 1 -110 |
| -2 55 | 2 -55 |
| -5 22 | 5 -22 |
| -10 11 | 10 -11 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = 17 }$
| PRODUCT = -110 and SUM = 17 | |
| -1 110 | 1 -110 |
| -2 55 | 2 -55 |
| -5 22 | 5 -22 |
| -10 11 | 10 -11 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ 17 x $ with $ 22x-5x $:
$$ 2x^{2}+17x-55 = 2x^{2}+22x-5x-55 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 2x $ out of the first two terms and $ -5 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 2x^{2}+22x-5x-55 = 2x\left(x+11\right) -5\left(x+11\right) = \left(2x-5\right) \left(x+11\right) $$