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Factor the Expression. If the expression cannot be factored, say so. 8.) x^2 - 4x - 12

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To factor an expression of the form:


x^2+bx+c

we find two numbers B and C that fulfills the following properties:


\begin{gathered} B+C=b \\ BC=c \end{gathered}

In this case we have b=-4 and c=-12. We can choose B=-6 and C=2. Then we write the expression as:


x^2-4x-12=x^2-6x+2x-12

and we factor the common factors in the first two and last terms:


\begin{gathered} x^2-4x-12=x^2-6x+2x-12 \\ =x(x-6)+2(x-6) \\ =(x+2)(x-6) \end{gathered}

Therefore:


x^2-4x-12=(x+2)(x-6)

User Tawnya
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