# Math Help - Factorising Quadratic Equations

Hello, trying to factorise:

x^2-5x-6

So far i've got:

AC = -6, so x^2+x-6x-6 = x(x+1)-6(x+1)

Now getting to that point all makes sense to me, however in my textbook it says 'x+1 is a factor of both terms, so take that outside the bracket', leaving the answer as (x+1)(x-6). I don't understand how they got from x(x+1)-6(x+1) to (x+1)(x-6). Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

2. Originally Posted by Aaron01424
Hello, trying to factorise:

x^2-5x-6

So far i've got:

AC = -6, so x^2+x-6x-6 = x(x+1)-6(x+1)

Now getting to that point all makes sense to me, however in my textbook it says 'x+1 is a factor of both terms, so take that outside the bracket', leaving the answer as (x+1)(x-6). I don't understand how they got from x(x+1)-6(x+1) to (x+1)(x-6). Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
Can you factorise xA - 6A ?

3. Since both terms are multiplied by (x+1), you can just take x+1 outside the brackets to give $x^2-5x-6=(x-6)(x+1)$.

4. Originally Posted by mr fantastic
Can you factorise xA - 6A ?
Yeah, A(x-6).

Originally Posted by Showcase_22
Since both terms are multiplied by (x+1), you can just take x+1 outside the brackets to give $x^2-5x-6=(x-6)(x+1)$.
Yeah, that's what it says in the book. Maybe i'm overcomplicating it, but I don't understand what you do when you take it out of the brackets.

5. Originally Posted by Aaron01424
Yeah, A(x-6).

Yeah, that's what it says in the book. Maybe i'm overcomplicating it, but I don't understand what you do when you take it out of the brackets.
OK. Now replace A with (x + 1).

6. Aha. I see, great. Cheers.