Solve x^2-4x+3

$${ x }^{ 2 } -4x+3$$

Factor

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+3. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-4 ab=1\times 3=3$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is negative, a and b are both negative. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$a=-3 b=-1$$

Rewrite x^{2}-4x+3 as \left(x^{2}-3x\right)+\left(-x+3\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-3x\right)+\left(-x+3\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and -1 in the second group.

$$x\left(x-3\right)-\left(x-3\right)$$

Factor out common term x-3 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

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.

$$x^{2}-4x+3=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{\left(-4\right)^{2}-4\times 3}}{2}$$

Square -4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±\sqrt{16-4\times 3}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 3.

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

Add 16 to -12.

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

Take the square root of 4.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-4\right)±2}{2}$$

The opposite of -4 is 4.

$$x=\frac{4±2}{2}$$

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

$$x=\frac{6}{2}$$

Divide 6 by 2.

$$x=3$$

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

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

Divide 2 by 2.

$$x=1$$

Factor the original expression using ax^{2}+bx+c=a\left(x-x_{1}\right)\left(x-x_{2}\right). Substitute 3 for x_{1} and 1 for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}-4x+3=\left(x-3\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

Evaluate

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x-1\right)$$