Bài giải:
a) \(x^2+7x-8=x^2+8x-x-8\)
\(=\left(x^2-x\right)+\left(8x-8\right)\)
\(=x\left(x-1\right)+8\left(x-1\right)\)
\(=\left(x-1\right)\left(x+8\right)\)
Mà \(\left(x-1\right)\left(x+8\right)=0\) \(\Leftrightarrow x-1=0\) ; \(x+8=0\)
\(\Leftrightarrow x=1\) và \(x=-8\)
b) \(x^2+88-231=0\) \(\Leftrightarrow x^2=143\)
\(\Leftrightarrow x=\sqrt{143}\) hoặc \(x=-\sqrt{143}\)