How do you factor x^2 + 8x + 12?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Jun 12, 2016

x^2+8x+12=color(green)((x+2)(x+6))

Explanation:

In general
color(white)("XXX")(x^2+(color(red)(a)+color(blue)(b))x+color(red)(a)*color(blue)(b))=(x+color(red)(a))(x+color(blue)(b))

8 = color(red)(2)+color(blue)(6)
and
12=color(red)(2)*color(blue)(6)

So
x^2+8x+12

color(white)("XXX")=(x^2+(color(red)(2)+color(blue)(6))x+color(red)(2)*color(blue)(6)

color(white)("XXX")=(x+color(red)(2))(x+color(blue)(6))

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