Solve x^2+4x-12

$${ x }^{ 2 } +4x-12$$

Factor

$$\left(x-2\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx-12. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=4 ab=1\left(-12\right)=-12$$

Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. List all such integer pairs that give product -12.

$$-1,12 -2,6 -3,4$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1+12=11 -2+6=4 -3+4=1$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 4.

$$a=-2 b=6$$

Rewrite x^{2}+4x-12 as \left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(6x-12\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(6x-12\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 6 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-2\right)+6\left(x-2\right)$$

Factor out common term x-2 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-2\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

Steps Using the Quadratic Formula

Quadratic polynomial can be factored using the transformation ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right), where x_{1} and x_{2} are the solutions of the quadratic equation ax^{2}+bx+c=0.

$$x^{2}+4x-12=0$$

All equations of the form ax^{2}+bx+c=0 can be solved using the quadratic formula: \frac{-b±\sqrt{b^{2}-4ac}}{2a}. The quadratic formula gives two solutions, one when ± is addition and one when it is subtraction.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{4^{2}-4\left(-12\right)}}{2}$$

Square 4.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16-4\left(-12\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -12.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16+48}}{2}$$

Add 16 to 48.

$$x=\frac{-4±\sqrt{64}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 64.

$$x=\frac{-4±8}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±8}{2} when ± is plus. Add -4 to 8.

$$x=\frac{4}{2}$$

Divide 4 by 2.

$$x=2$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-4±8}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 8 from -4.

$$x=-\frac{12}{2}$$

Divide -12 by 2.

$$x=-6$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 2 for x_{1} and -6 for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}+4x-12=\left(x-2\right)\left(x-\left(-6\right)\right)$$

Simplify all the expressions of the form p-\left(-q\right) to p+q.

$$x^{2}+4x-12=\left(x-2\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

Evaluate

$$\left(x-2\right)\left(x+6\right)$$