Question

How do you factor the trinomial `x^2 - 4 x - 12`?

Answer 1

`x^2-4x-12 = (x-6)(x+2)`

Explanation:

Find a pair of factors of `12` which differ by `4`.

The pair `6, 2` works, in that `6*2=12` and `6-2=0`

Hence:

`x^2-4x-12 = (x-6)(x+2)`