Question 311313: Solve x^2 - 2x = 24 by factoring.
Answer by fractalier(6550)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Starting from
x^2 - 2x = 24
let's bring the 24 to the left side by subtracting 24 from both sides
x^2 - 2x - 24 = 0
Now set up your parentheses
( )( ) = 0
Since it begins with x^2, we know it must be
(x )(x ) = 0
Now look at the second sign. It is a minus. That means our binomials have different signs...
(x+ )(x- ) = 0
Then we ask: What are the factors of 24 that have a difference of 2?
Well, 6 and 4, and since the middle term is minus 2x, the 6 goes to the negative term, and we get
(x+4)(x-6) = 0
If these multiply to make zero, then either must be zero, so that
x = -4 and x = 6
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