We are trying to get to the form of x2 + 5x + 6 = ( x + a)(x + b)6 must also factorise as 6x1 or 3x2 Let's focus first on the x terms : 5x is the sum of ax + dbx and the coefficient of these two must be factor of 6 to have ab = 632 = 6, 3+2 = 5=> x2 + 5x + 6 = ( x + 3)(x + 2)