document.write( "Question 39267: Can you help me factor x^2-3x-2? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #24710 by Earlsdon(6294)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Factor: \"x%5E2-3x-2\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Try this!
\n" ); document.write( "You are looking for two binomials of the form:
\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%2Bm%29%28x%2Bn%29\" where: \"m%2An+=+-2\" and \"m%2Bn+=+-3\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's see what we can find.
\n" ); document.write( "If m = 1 and n = -2, then \"m%2An+=+-2\" (This is ok) and \"m%2Bn+=+-1\" (but this won't do it).
\n" ); document.write( "Try m = -1 and n = 2, then \"m%2An+=+-2\" (This is ok)and \"m%2Bn+=+1\" (but this won't do either).
\n" ); document.write( "As you can see, we've exhausted the possibilities of the restriction on m and n, so the conclusion is that the expression:\"x%5E2-3x-2\" is not factorable, therefore, it is prime.
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