Question

Factor. x squarded -x -2

Answer 1

(x-2)(x+1)

1. Explanation: You basically want to see what the factors of -2 are. It is 1 and -2 or -1 and 2.
2. You want to make sure which one of those will equal -x but can also equal an -2.
3. When you do (x-2)(x+1); you can add the middle too numbers to see if you get the middle numbers
4. if you did, then you can multiple it using the foil method to see if you get the same answer.
5. So the middle would be -2x +1x. That would be a -x.
6. then you would multiple the all to see if you get an x^2-x-2.
7. WHen you do it it would come to x^2+1x-2x-2.
8. Once you have that, you can add like terms to ge x^2-2x-2.