Question

u^2-4u-1=0...how do you factor this?

Answer 1

Just add a 5 and subtract a 5....so it now becomes u^2-4u+4 -5.
then just use formula to get (u-2)^2 - (sqrt 5)^2
so it becomes again a formula
then your answer would come (u-2+sqrt5)(u-2-sqrt5)

Answer 2

What @Jetly is saying is that you need to complete the square. Are you familiar with it?

Answer 3

yes thanks :)

Answer 4

u need to factorize it ...so u can do that anyway.....@bmp.

Answer 5

cos00155079 did u understand the procedure

Answer 6

jetly yes im trying to apply that... thanks

Answer 7

No problem, I just wanted to check if you could follow the procedure :-). Alas, kudos for Jetly for solving it.

Answer 8

:) yup thank u both..really helpful