Question

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

Answer 1

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)`