How do you factor x^2-5x+6=0?

1 Answer
Apr 30, 2016

color(green)((x-3)(x-2) is the factorised form of the expression.

Explanation:

x^2 - 5x + 6 = 0

We can Split the Middle Term of this expression to factorise it.

In this technique, if we have to factorise an expression like ax^2 + bx + c, we need to think of 2 numbers such that:

N_1*N_2 = a*c = 1*6 = 6

AND

N_1 +N_2 = b = -5

After trying out a few numbers we get N_1 = -2 and N_2 =-3

(-2)*(-3) = 6, and (-2) +(-3)= -5

x^2 - 5x + 6 =x^2 - 2x -3x + 6

= x (x-2) -3 (x -2 )

(x-2) is a common factor to each of the terms

=color(green)((x-3)(x-2)