Question

How do you factor the trinomial `x^2 - 2x + 1`?

Answer 1

This is a perfect square trinomial, which factors like `(x - a)^2`

Explanation:

(x - 1)(x - 1) ---> Since -1 • -1 = 1 and -1 - 1 = -2
`(x - 1)^2`

Answer 2

(x - 1 )(x - 1 ) = `(x - 1 )^2`

Explanation:

to factor #x^2 - 2x - 1 we require 2 numbers that multiply to give +1 and sum to -2. These can only be -1 , -1
since (-1) . (-1) = +1
and -1 + (-1) = -2