Factor the following
x^2 - 2x - 3

 1.1     Factoring  x2-2x-3 

The first term is,  x2  its coefficient is  1 .
The middle term is,  -2x  its coefficient is  -2 .
The last term, "the constant", is  -3 

Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant   1 • -3 = -3 

Step-2 : Find two factors of  -3  whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is   -2 .

Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above,  -3  and  1 
                     x2 - 3x + 1x - 3

Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
                    x • (x-3)
              Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
                     1 • (x-3)
Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
                    (x+1)  •  (x-3)
             Which is the desired factorization

5

step-by-step explanation:

360/29

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