Question

How do you factor the trinomial `y^2 - 2y - 3`?

Answer 1

(y + 1)(y - 3)

Explanation:

`f(y) = y^2 - 2y - 3`
Since a - b + c = 0, use shortcut:
- one real root is (-1) and the factor is (y + 1)
- one real root is `-c/a = 3` , and the factor is (y - 3).
f(y) = (y + 1)(y - 3)