Factorise X^2 + 1X -12

Because the highest power of X is 2, this is a Quadratic Equation

When factorised, these look like 

       (x + a)(x + b)                 where a & b are constants

To factorise this, we need to find 2 numbers which add together to make the coefficient (number in front of) X and multiply to make the number at the end.

So we need two numbers which add together to make +1 and multiply to make -12       +4 & -3

a & b in the form above are replace by these to numbers, so the answer is

(x+4)(x-3)

JW
Answered by Jack W. Maths tutor

5434 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do I solve simultaneous equations?


What are indices laws?


Consider a right-angled triangle with an inside angle of 30° and a hypotenuse of 8cm. Calculate the length of the opposite side to the 30° angle.


Matt has 3 piles of coins, A , B and C. Altogether there was 72p. Pile B had twice as much as pile A. Pile C had three times as much as pile B. How much money was in Pile C?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning