Question

x^2+x-6 factor as much as possible

Answer 1

find two numbers that

a) multiply to -6 (last term)

AND

b) add to 1 (the middle coefficient, note: x = 1x)

Answer 2

what two numbers did you get?

Answer 3

-2 and -3?

Answer 4

close, but not quite

Answer 5

-2 and -3 add to -2+(-3) = -5

-2 and -3 multiply to -2*(-3) = 6

Answer 6

try again

Answer 7

Hint: one of the numbers must be negative and the other must be positive (so they multiply to a negative number)

Answer 8

2 and -3

Answer 9

closer, but still not there yet

Answer 10

2 + (-3) = -1

but we want positive 1

Answer 11

i'm so sorry I know I sound really stupid right now but i'm horrible at this stuff

Answer 12

its ok and you're not stupid

Answer 13

that's what practice is for

Answer 14

so get that silly idea out of your head, what else is left to try?

Answer 15

another hint: since the two numbers add to a positive number, the larger number is positive (ignore the sign)