How do you factor the trinomial x^2-5xy-6y^2?

1 Answer

(x + y) (x - 6y)

Explanation:

Hi. I don't know how to explain this. I just end up with that answer. :)

The general expression for factoring is that if the factors are (x+a)*(x+b) the trinomial is x^2 +(a+b)x + ab. The addition of the second variable y does not invalidate this.
By inspection a = -6 and b = 1