Question 271219
Do you want to factor this problem?  

If so... you have to think in terms of FOIL which stands for

First
Outside
Inside
Last

So you have:  {{{x^2 + x - 6}}}


Your first term is easy, because you need to come up with something that when multiplied, will result in {{{x^2}}}.   Soooo you can think of x times x = {{{x^2}}}.


So now you have: 


{{{(x ________)(x ______)}}}


What do you fill in for the blanks?  Well, from your original equation you have to think of numbers that will MULTIPLY to be -6, yet ADD to be +1.   The -6 is the LAST term in the equation and the +1 refers to the middle term (1x) in the original equation.


A pretty typical way to reach 6 is to multiply {{{2 * 3}}} but you want a -6, right?   WELL, if you multiply {{{2 * -3}}} you will get -6 but will you get 1x if you add those terms?  No... you will get -1.


SO how about:  {{{-2 * 3}}}   AH!  In that case you will get -6 by multiplying those terms and you will get +1 if you add them.   So let's put that info in for factoring:


{{{(x - 2)(x + 3)}}}


Now let's use FOIL and see if this factors correctly:

First:  {{{x * x = x^2}}}  Ok, that works.
Outside:  {{{x * 3 = 3x}}}
Inside:  {{{x * -2 = -2x)))
Last:  {{{-2 * 3 = -6}}}


Now we have:  {{{x^2 + 3x -2x -6}}}  Let's combine like terms:
{{{x^2 + 1x -6}}}  or.... {{{x^2 + x - 6}}}


So now you can see you have correctly factored the equation.  


If that is not what you wanted to do with the equation, resubmit your question. 


Hope this helps. :-)