Answer:
(x - 2) • (x - 4) • (x - 8)
Explanation:
The first term is, x2 its coefficient is 1 .
The middle term is, -6x its coefficient is -6 .
The last term, "the constant", is +8
Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 1 • 8 = 8
Step-2 : Find two factors of 8 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is -6 .
-8 + -1 = -9
-4 + -2 = -6 That's it
Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -4 and -2
x2 - 4x - 2x - 8
Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
x • (x-4)
Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
2 • (x-4)
Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
(x-2) • (x-4)
Which is the desired factorization