How do you factor #(x^2) - 8x + 12#?

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Answer 1 · 2015-10-03T15:17:03

#color(blue)((x-2)(x-6) # is the factorised form of the equation .

#x^2−8x+12#

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*12 = 12#
AND
#N_1 +N_2 = b = -8#

After trying out a few numbers we get #N_1 = -2# and #N_2 =-6#
#-2*-6 = 12# and #-2-6= -8#

#x^2−8x+12 =x^2−6x-2x+12#

#=x(x-6) -2(x-6)#

#color(blue)((x-2)(x-6) # is the factorised form of the equation .