Solve (1)(x-4)(x+1)>0

$$( 1 ) ( x - 4 ) ( x + 1 ) > 0$$

Solve for x

$$x\in \left(-\infty,-1\right)\cup \left(4,\infty\right)$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Use the distributive property to multiply 1 by x-4.

$$\left(x-4\right)\left(x+1\right)>0$$

Use the distributive property to multiply x-4 by x+1 and combine like terms.

$$x^{2}-3x-4>0$$

To solve the inequality, factor the left hand side. Quadratic polynomial can be factored using the transformation ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right), where x_{1} and x_{2} are the solutions of the quadratic equation ax^{2}+bx+c=0.

$$x^{2}-3x-4=0$$

All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. Substitute 1 for a, -3 for b, and -4 for c in the quadratic formula.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-3\right)±\sqrt{\left(-3\right)^{2}-4\times 1\left(-4\right)}}{2}$$

Do the calculations.

$$x=\frac{3±5}{2}$$

Solve the equation x=\frac{3±5}{2} when ± is plus and when ± is minus.

$$x=4 x=-1$$

Rewrite the inequality by using the obtained solutions.

$$\left(x-4\right)\left(x+1\right)>0$$

For the product to be positive, x-4 and x+1 have to be both negative or both positive. Consider the case when x-4 and x+1 are both negative.

$$x-4<0 x+1<0$$

The solution satisfying both inequalities is x<-1.

$$x<-1$$

Consider the case when x-4 and x+1 are both positive.

$$x+1>0 x-4>0$$

The solution satisfying both inequalities is x>4.

$$x>4$$

The final solution is the union of the obtained solutions.

$$x<-1\text{; }x>4$$