Question

How do you factor `p^2 - 8p + 12`?

Answer 1

Notice that `8 = 6 + 2` and `12 = 6 xx 2`, so

`p^2-8p+12`

`= p^2-(6+2)p+(6xx2)`

`= (p-6)(p-2)`

In general form:

`(p-a)(p-b) = p^2-(a+b)p+(axxb)`