The factors of -13 are either -1 and 13 or 1 and -13, and neither pair sums to -2. Therefore this quadratic equation cannot be factored over the rational numbers.
Your alternatives are to complete the square or use the quadratic formula. Since the quadratic formula requires quite a bit less work, that seems the obvious choice.
The solution to:
is
so just plug in your coefficients and do the arithmetic.
You can do your own arithmetic. Hint for exact answer:
John
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
