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How do you factor #p^2 - 8p + 12#?

1 Answer

May 25, 2015

Notice that #8 = 6 + 2# and #12 = 6 xx 2#, so

#p^2-8p+12#

#= p^2-(6+2)p+(6xx2)#

#= (p-6)(p-2)#

In general form:

#(p-a)(p-b) = p^2-(a+b)p+(axxb)#

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