SOLUTION: Could you please explain what a linear factor is and how it works in this equation? 2x^2 - x - 6 Thank you Michael G.

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Question 6425: Could you please explain what a linear factor is and how it works in this equation?
2x^2 - x - 6
Thank you
Michael G.
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First of all, a linear factor is a factor whose highest power of the variable is 1. In your example here because you have an x^2 as the highest power of x in the problem, it is said to be quadratic. It is NOT linear. Linear factors would be like: 3x + 2, x-4, -2x+3, etc.

Secondly, you have given an expression, NOT an equation. An equation must have a left side, a right side, and an equal sign in it. What you have given is an expression
2x%5E2+-x+-6+ which factors into this:
%282x+%2B+3%29%28x+-+2%29. Therefore, each of these factors: %282x%2B3%29 and %28x-2%29 are said to be "linear factors." How to factor these quadratic expressions into linear factors is another whole topic. See some of my lesson plans on factoring either on the algebra.com website or my own website under Basic Algebra Chapter 2. There are about three sections there on factoring.

R^2 at SCC