<PRE><B>Question 151107</B>
Do you want to factor this?





Looking at the expression {{{x^2-5x+6}}}, we can see that the first coefficient is {{{1}}}, the second coefficient is {{{-5}}}, and the last term is {{{6}}}.



Now multiply the first coefficient {{{1}}} by the last term {{{6}}} to get {{{(1)(6)=6}}}.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to {{{6}}} (the previous product) &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;and&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; add to the second coefficient {{{-5}}}?



To find these two numbers, we need to list &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;all&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; of the factors of {{{6}}} (the previous product).



Factors of {{{6}}}:

1,2,3,6

-1,-2,-3,-6



Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.



These factors pair up and multiply to {{{6}}}.

1*6
2*3
(-1)*(-6)
(-2)*(-3)


Now let&#39;s add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient {{{-5}}}:



&lt;table border=&quot;1&quot;&gt;&lt;th&gt;First Number&lt;/th&gt;&lt;th&gt;Second Number&lt;/th&gt;&lt;th&gt;Sum&lt;/th&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;6&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;1+6=7&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;2&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;3&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;2+3=5&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-1&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-6&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=black&gt;-1+(-6)=-7&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;-2&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;-3&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td  align=&quot;center&quot;&gt;&lt;font color=red&gt;-2+(-3)=-5&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/table&gt;



From the table, we can see that the two numbers {{{-2}}} and {{{-3}}} add to {{{-5}}} (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers {{{-2}}} and {{{-3}}} both multiply to {{{6}}} &lt;font size=4&gt;&lt;b&gt;and&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt; add to {{{-5}}}



Now replace the middle term {{{-5x}}} with {{{-2x-3x}}}. Remember, {{{-2}}} and {{{-3}}} add to {{{-5}}}. So this shows us that {{{-2x-3x=-5x}}}.



{{{x^2+highlight(-2x-3x)+6}}} Replace the second term {{{-5x}}} with {{{-2x-3x}}}.



{{{(x^2-2x)+(-3x+6)}}} Group the terms into two pairs.



{{{x(x-2)+(-3x+6)}}} Factor out the GCF {{{x}}} from the first group.



{{{x(x-2)-3(x-2)}}} Factor out {{{3}}} from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis.



{{{(x-3)(x-2)}}} Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term {{{x-2}}}


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Answer:



So {{{x^2-5x+6}}} factors to {{{(x-3)(x-2)}}}.



Note: you can check the answer by FOILing {{{(x-3)(x-2)}}} to get {{{x^2-5x+6}}} or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).
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