How do you factor the trinomial x^2+6x+8?

1 Answer
Jan 2, 2016

You find its roots and then turn them into factors, by equaling each root found to zero.

Explanation:

Using Bhaskara:

(-6+-sqrt(6^2-4(1)(8)))/2=(-6+-sqrt(4))/2=(-6+-2)/2

x_1=-4 and x_2=-2

So, the factors are, respectively, x+4=0 and x+2=0

Rewriting:

x^2+6x+8 <=> (x+4)(x+2)