Question

Factor the polynomial x^2 + 6x - 9

Answer 1

X² + 6x - 9 

find a number that multiplies by itself to make the outer number (9) and is added to itself to make the middle number (6). If the x² had a coefficient (e.g. 2x²) then you would multiply that number by the outer number (2 x 9 = 18) and do the same thing.

A number that multiplies to 9 and adds up to 6 is 3. Since we have a negative 9, the final answer would be negative. If you have two negative, it would be positive, and if you have two positives, it would be positive aswell.

Therefore, your answer would look like this:

                                               (x - 3)²