Question

Solve x2 – 12x + 59 = 0 for x.

Answer 1

59 is a tough bird to deal with; its only factors are 1 and 59.

Thus, forget about factoring.  Instead, use the quadratic formula, or solve the equation by completing the square.

Please note:  x2 is ambiguous.  Please write x^2 to indicate "the square of 2."

Here you have 1x^2 - 12x + 59 = 0, for which a=1, b=-12 and c=59.

Use the quadratic formula:  x=[-b plus or minus sqrt(b^2-4ac)] / (2a)

to find the two roots.  Notice that the "discriminant" b^2 - 4ac will be negative, meaning that your two roots will be "complex."