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 $\color{blue}{ a = 5 }$ by the constant term $\color{blue}{c = -8} $.
$$ a \cdot c = -40 $$Step 3: Find out two numbers that multiply to $ a \cdot c = -40 $ and add to $ b = 6 $.
Step 4: All pairs of numbers with a product of $ -40 $ are:
| PRODUCT = -40 | |
| -1 40 | 1 -40 |
| -2 20 | 2 -20 |
| -4 10 | 4 -10 |
| -5 8 | 5 -8 |
Step 5: Find out which factor pair sums up to $\color{blue}{ b = 6 }$
| PRODUCT = -40 and SUM = 6 | |
| -1 40 | 1 -40 |
| -2 20 | 2 -20 |
| -4 10 | 4 -10 |
| -5 8 | 5 -8 |
Step 6: Replace middle term $ 6 x $ with $ 10x-4x $:
$$ 5x^{2}+6x-8 = 5x^{2}+10x-4x-8 $$Step 7: Apply factoring by grouping. Factor $ 5x $ out of the first two terms and $ -4 $ out of the last two terms.
$$ 5x^{2}+10x-4x-8 = 5x\left(x+2\right) -4\left(x+2\right) = \left(5x-4\right) \left(x+2\right) $$