Algebra Examples

Factor: $x^{2} + 2 x - 3$

Step 1

Consider the form $x^{2} + b x + c$ . Find a pair of integers whose product is $c$ and whose sum is $b$ . In this case, whose product is $- 3$ and whose sum is $2$ .

$- 1, 3$

Step 2

Write the factored form using these integers.

$(x - 1) (x + 3)$