A, b and c can be any numbers Factorising a Quadratic Equation 16 November 2004 All of these equations are quadratic equations: y = x2 + 5x + 6 y = x2 + 3x - 10 y = x2 - 16 y = x2 + 3x y = ax2 + bx + c A, b and c can be any numbers
0 = x2 + 5x + 6 1 X 6 = 6 2 X 3 = 6 2 + 3 = 5 0 = (x + 2)(x + 3) To solve by factorising 0 = x2 + 5x + 6 FIRST Find all the factor pairs of 6 1 X 6 = 6 2 X 3 = 6 SECOND Choose the pair that add up to 5 2 + 3 = 5 THIRD These two numbers give the answer like this: 0 = (x + 2)(x + 3) x = -2 and -3