Solve:
x squared - 2x + 17 = 0. I have the answer but I don't know how to show the work. Can anyone help?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Are there factors of 17 you can think of that also add to give you a negative 2?  That is, is there 2 numbers that multiply to give you 17 but add to -2?

anonymous · Answer

Mmm well, factors of 17 are either +1 and +17 which add to 18 or -1 and -17 which add to -18.  Definitely NOT the coefficient of the middle term(which is -2).   So it looks like I'm not going to be able to factor this using this method.  Can you think of another method that might work?