Question

Solution of a quadratic x2+5x-6=0

Answer 1

The first term is,  x2  its coefficient is  1 .

The middle term is,  -5x  its coefficient is  -5 .

The last term, "the constant", is  -6  

Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant   1 • -6 = -6  

Step-2 : Find two factors of  -6  whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is   -5 .

     -6    +    1    =    -5    That's it

Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above,  -6  and  1  

                    x2 - 6x + 1x - 6

Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :

                   x • (x-6)

             Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :

                    1 • (x-6)

Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :

                   (x+1)  •  (x-6)

            Which is the desired factorization