Factorise x^2 + 5x + 6

Firstly, look at the number in front of the x term. This is 5Then look at the number at the end without an x term. This is 6.What 2 numbers would add to make 5, and multiply to make 6?? + ? = 5 ? x ?=6This would be 2 and 3Using these two numbers, we can split the term 5x into 2x and 3xx^2 + 2x + 3x + 6Then look at the first two terms. What do they have in common? They both have an x. Take out the x so: x (x + 2)Then look at the last two terms. What do they have in common? They both contain multiples of 3. Take out the 3 so: 3 (x +2)Putting the equation together: x (x + 2) + 3 (x + 2)You know you will have factorised correctly if the expression in the brackets are the sameTo finish off: (x+3)(x+2) You can double check by multiplying out the brackets and seeing if you reach the expression you started with

Answered by Ravneet M. Maths tutor

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