![\frac{x^2+x-6}{x^2-7x+10}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7Bx%5E2%2Bx-6%7D%7Bx%5E2-7x%2B10%7D)
When you factor a quadratic ax² + bx + c, it becomes (x+m)(x+n), where mn = ac, and m+n = b.
In x²+x-6, we want to find two numbers that multiply to -6 and add to 1.
3 and -2 satisfy both of these criteria, so there are our factors.
![\frac{(x+3)(x-2)}{x^2-7x+10}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7B%28x%2B3%29%28x-2%29%7D%7Bx%5E2-7x%2B10%7D)
In x²-7x+10, we want to find two numbers that multiply to 10 and add to -7.
-5 and -2 satisfy both of these criteria, so there are our factors.
![\frac{(x+3)(x-2)}{(x-5)(x-2)}](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=%5Cfrac%7B%28x%2B3%29%28x-2%29%7D%7B%28x-5%29%28x-2%29%7D)
The (x-2) cancels and we're left with