document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=365540>Question 365540</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x2 - x - 6 =\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Simplified. I know the answer is (x+2)(x-3), but I don't understand how the answer was achieved. Can I please get an explanation of this? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #260584 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=260584\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> x^2 - x - 6 = <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Simplified. I know the answer is (x+2)(x-3), but I don't understand how the answer was achieved. Can I please get an explanation of this?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You have to understand FOIL.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "When you multiply two binomials you establish a pattern.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+a)(x+b) = x^2 + (a+b)x + ab<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Notice that the ab is a product of a and b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and a+b is the sum of the same numbers.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your Problem<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-6 is the product of two numbers<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-1 is the sum of the same numbers<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thinking about it you need to arrive<BR>\n" );
document.write( "at the right numbers; they are -3 and +2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So you can rewrite your problem as follows:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2 -3x+2x -6<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now factor the 1st two and the last two terms<BR>\n" );
document.write( "separately to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x(x-3)+2(x-3)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Then you need to factor again to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x-3)(x+2) which is the answer you need.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "====================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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