document.write( "Question 119714: Is this the right factoring
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Algebra.Com's Answer #87708 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
No it is not. If you foil \"%28x-2%29%28x-3%29\" you'll get \"x%5E2-5x%2B6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Looking at \"x%5E2-5x-6\" we can see that the first term is \"x%5E2\" and the last term is \"-6\" where the coefficients are 1 and -6 respectively.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now multiply the first coefficient 1 and the last coefficient -6 to get -6. Now what two numbers multiply to -6 and add to the middle coefficient -5? Let's list all of the factors of -6:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Factors of -6:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-1,-2,-3,-6 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "These factors pair up and multiply to -6\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(1)*(-6)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2)*(-3)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-1)*(6)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(-2)*(3)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now which of these pairs add to -5? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -5\r
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First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-61+(-6)=-5
2-32+(-3)=-1
-16-1+6=5
-23-2+3=1
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "From this list we can see that 1 and -6 add up to -5 and multiply to -6\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now looking at the expression \"x%5E2-5x-6\", replace \"-5x\" with \"1x%2B-6x\" (notice \"1x%2B-6x\" adds up to \"-5x\". So it is equivalent to \"-5x\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%5E2%2Bhighlight%281x%2B-6x%29%2B-6\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's factor \"x%5E2%2B1x-6x-6\" by grouping:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x%5E2%2B1x%29%2B%28-6x-6%29\" Group like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"x%28x%2B1%29-6%28x%2B1%29\" Factor out the GCF of \"x\" out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of \"-6\" out of the second group\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-6%29%28x%2B1%29\" Since we have a common term of \"x%2B1\", we can combine like terms\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"x%5E2%2B1x-6x-6\" factors to \"%28x-6%29%28x%2B1%29\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So this also means that \"x%5E2-5x-6\" factors to \"%28x-6%29%28x%2B1%29\" (since \"x%5E2-5x-6\" is equivalent to \"x%5E2%2B1x-6x-6\")\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " Answer:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"x%5E2-5x-6\" factors to \"%28x-6%29%28x%2B1%29\"
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