Question

what is the factorization of x2 + 4x - 12?

Answer 1

(x-2)(x+6)

Answer 2

(x+6) (x-2)

coefficient of x² multiplied by -12 = -12

factors of -12

1 -12
2 -6
3 -4
-1 12
-2 6
-3 4

you want to add the two numbers together to get 4
-2 6 works for this problem

you now have
x²-2x + 6x -12

take out a factor that is common in all this
x(x-2)+6(x-2)

(x+6) (x-2)