Pre-Algebra Examples

$x^{2} - 2 x - 3 = 0$

Step 1

Factor $x^{2} - 2 x - 3$ using the AC method.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1

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 $- 2$ .

$- 3, 1$

Step 1.2

Write the factored form using these integers.

$(x - 3) (x + 1) = 0$

Step 2

If any individual factor on the left side of the equation is equal to $0$ , the entire expression will be equal to $0$ .

$x - 3 = 0$

$x + 1 = 0$

Step 3

Set $x - 3$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.1

Set $x - 3$ equal to $0$ .

$x - 3 = 0$

Step 3.2

Add $3$ to both sides of the equation.

$x = 3$

Step 4

Set $x + 1$ equal to $0$ and solve for $x$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1

Set $x + 1$ equal to $0$ .

$x + 1 = 0$

Step 4.2

Subtract $1$ from both sides of the equation.

$x = - 1$

Step 5

The final solution is all the values that make $(x - 3) (x + 1) = 0$ true.

$x = 3, - 1$