document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=241484>Question 241484</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\">  Factor the trinomial, or state that the trinomial is prime.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x²-3x-18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x²-3x-18=<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Type P if the polynomial is prime.<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #176866 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=176866\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Factor the trinomial, or state that the trinomial is prime.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x²-3x-18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---------------<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Think of two numbers whose product is -18 and whose sum is -3.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The numbers are -6 and 3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Rewrite the problem making this substitution:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 - 6x + 3x -18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor the 1st two and the last two terms separately:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x(x-6) + 3(x-6)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor again to get the solution:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x-6)(x+3)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "======================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );