document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=633623>Question 633623</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I haven't been in school for over 30 years. I am studying the compass test but find that I am having some difficulty remembering algebra. for example : which of the following is a factor of x^2 -5x -6. I'm not clear on the x. What do you do to find what x is?  Thanks. If i can get an understanding of that it might help me. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #399026 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><B>Alan3354(69443)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Alan3354><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Alan3354><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=399026\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> which of the following is a factor of x^2 -5x -6. I'm not clear on the x. What do you do to find what x is?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x^2 -5x -6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Look for two factors of 6.  It's either 1*6 or 2*3, those two possibilities.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The signs are different, since it's -6.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "And, the difference is 5, since it's 5x.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Only 1 & 6 differ by 5.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "--> (x + 1)*(x - 6)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "That's all there is to do.  You can't solve for x, it's not an equation. </SPAN>\n" );
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