What is the product of the two solutions to x² + 3x - 40 = 0?

Factor: $x^2 + 3x - 40 = (x + 8)(x - 5)$, since $8 \cdot (-5) = -40$ and $8 + (-5) = 3$. The solutions are $x = -8$ and $x = 5$, and their product is $-8 \times 5 = -40$, choice A. By Vieta's formulas, the product of the roots equals the constant term, so you can read $-40$ straight from the equation. Choice B (40) drops the sign. Choice C (3) is the $x$-coefficient, and choice D ($-3$) is the sum of the roots, $-8 + 5$. The product of the roots is the constant term, and the sum is the opposite of the $x$-coefficient.