Thread: working out a quadratic - and +

Hello,

Here it is:

x$\displaystyle ^2$-12x+20

I have figured out that the product and sum is 2 and 10. make 12, times together to make 20. however i dont know how to continue from there.

thanks

Originally Posted by Sphinxy1994

Hello,

Here it is:

x$\displaystyle ^2$-12x+20

I have figured out that the product and sum is 2 and 10. make 12, times together to make 20. however i dont know how to continue from there.

thanks

more specifically, -2 * -10 = + 20 and -2 + (-10) = -12

thus, $\displaystyle x^2 - 12x + 20 = (x - 2)(x - 10)$


also, see the relevant link in my signature to learn how to use LaTeX

So your equation is now (x- 2)(x- 10)= 0 and the only way a product of numbers can be 0 is if one of the numbers is 0 itself.