Question

factor this polynomial completely x^2-12x-36

Answer 1

hold on one minute

Answer 2

1.1 Factoring x2-12x+36

The first term is, x2 its coefficient is 1 .
The middle term is, -12x its coefficient is -12 .
The last term, "the constant", is +36

Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 1 • 36 = 36

Step-2 : Find two factors of 36 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is -12 .


-36 + -1 = -37
-18 + -2 = -20
-12 + -3 = -15
-9 + -4 = -13
-6 + -6 = -12 That's it


Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -6 and -6
x2 - 6x - 6x - 36

Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
x • (x-6)
Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
6 • (x-6)
Now add up the four terms of step 3 :
(x-6) • (x-6)
Which is the desired factorization

or
(x - 6)2 = 0
Step 2 :
Solve (x-6)2 = 0

Answer 3

trayall, shouldn't it rather be \[x^2 -12x + 36\]?