Solve x^2+5x-6

$${ x }^{ 2 } +5x-6$$

Factor

$$\left(x-1\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx-6. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=5 ab=1\left(-6\right)=-6$$

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 -6.

$$-1,6 -2,3$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1+6=5 -2+3=1$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 5.

$$a=-1 b=6$$

Rewrite x^{2}+5x-6 as \left(x^{2}-x\right)+\left(6x-6\right).

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

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

$$x\left(x-1\right)+6\left(x-1\right)$$

Factor out common term x-1 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-1\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

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.

$$x^{2}+5x-6=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{5^{2}-4\left(-6\right)}}{2}$$

Square 5.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25-4\left(-6\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -6.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{25+24}}{2}$$

Add 25 to 24.

$$x=\frac{-5±\sqrt{49}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 49.

$$x=\frac{-5±7}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±7}{2} when ± is plus. Add -5 to 7.

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

Divide 2 by 2.

$$x=1$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{-5±7}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 7 from -5.

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

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 1 for x_{1} and -6 for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}+5x-6=\left(x-1\right)\left(x-\left(-6\right)\right)$$

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

$$x^{2}+5x-6=\left(x-1\right)\left(x+6\right)$$

Evaluate

$$\left(x-1\right)\left(x+6\right)$$