Question

How do you factor `h^ { 2} - 5h - 6`?

Answer 1

`(h + 1)(h - 6)`

Explanation:

You need to find two numbers that multiply to `-6` and sum to `-5`

To multiply to `-6` one of the numbers must be positive and one negative. The larger number must be negative because the sum must be `-5`:

Possible number choices:
`-3 " and " 2 " product" = -6 " sum" = -1`
`-6 " and " 1 " product" = -6 " sum" = -5`

The last combination works:

`h^2 - 5h -6 = (h + 1)( h - 6)`