I'd use trial and error since 2 is prime: 2nē - 11n - 63 The only two integers you can multiply to get 2 are 2 and 1, so write: (2x )(x ) The only way to factor 63 are 1*63 3*21 7*9 9*7 21*3 63*1 The last sign is - so we are looking for a difference Start trying the factors that are closest together first: (2x 9)(x 7) outer product = 14x, inner product = 9x, difference = 5x (2x 7)(x 9) outer product = 18x, inner product = 7x, difference = 11x So the last one will do it if we place the signs so that the outer product and the inner product combine to -11x. So we get (2x + 7)(x - 9) Edwin