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

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-25T12:33:00

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:

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

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