Pre-Algebra Examples

$p^{2} - p - 6$

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 $- 6$ and whose sum is $- 1$ .

$- 3, 2$

Step 2

Write the factored form using these integers.

$(p - 3) (p + 2)$