How do you factor the trinomial #x^2 - 2x + 1#?

2 Answers
Noah G
Jan 3, 2016

This is a perfect square trinomial, which factors like #(x - a)^2#

Explanation:

(x - 1)(x - 1) ---> Since -1 • -1 = 1 and -1 - 1 = -2
#(x - 1)^2#

Jim G.
Jan 3, 2016

(x - 1 )(x - 1 ) = # (x - 1 )^2#

Explanation:

to factor #x^2 - 2x - 1 we require 2 numbers that multiply to give +1 and sum to -2. These can only be -1 , -1
since (-1) . (-1) = +1
and -1 + (-1) = -2

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