To factor the expression x² + 14x + 48, we want to find two numbers that multiply to 48 (the constant term) and add up to 14 (the coefficient of the x term).
Upon inspection, the numbers 6 and 8 work since:
- 6 × 8 = 48
- 6 + 8 = 14
We can now rewrite the expression as:
(x + 6)(x + 8)
Thus, the factored form of the expression x² + 14x + 48 is (x + 6)(x + 8).