Solve a^2+a-2=

$$a ^ { 2 } + a - 2 =$$

Factor

$$\left(a-1\right)\left(a+2\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as a^{2}+pa+qa-2. To find p and q, set up a system to be solved.

$$p+q=1 pq=1\left(-2\right)=-2$$

Since pq is negative, p and q have the opposite signs. Since p+q is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$p=-1 q=2$$

Rewrite a^{2}+a-2 as \left(a^{2}-a\right)+\left(2a-2\right).

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

Factor out a in the first and 2 in the second group.

$$a\left(a-1\right)+2\left(a-1\right)$$

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

$$\left(a-1\right)\left(a+2\right)$$

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.

$$a^{2}+a-2=0$$

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.

$$a=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1^{2}-4\left(-2\right)}}{2}$$

Square 1.

$$a=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1-4\left(-2\right)}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times -2.

$$a=\frac{-1±\sqrt{1+8}}{2}$$

Add 1 to 8.

$$a=\frac{-1±\sqrt{9}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 9.

$$a=\frac{-1±3}{2}$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{-1±3}{2} when ± is plus. Add -1 to 3.

$$a=\frac{2}{2}$$

Divide 2 by 2.

$$a=1$$

Now solve the equation a=\frac{-1±3}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 3 from -1.

$$a=-\frac{4}{2}$$

Divide -4 by 2.

$$a=-2$$

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 -2 for x_{2}.

$$a^{2}+a-2=\left(a-1\right)\left(a-\left(-2\right)\right)$$

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

$$a^{2}+a-2=\left(a-1\right)\left(a+2\right)$$

Steps Using Direct Factoring Method

Quadratic equations such as this one can be solved by a new direct factoring method that does not require guess work. To use the direct factoring method, the equation must be in the form x^2+Bx+C=0.

$$x ^ 2 +1x -2 = 0$$

Let r and s be the factors for the quadratic equation such that x^2+Bx+C=(x−r)(x−s) where sum of factors (r+s)=−B and the product of factors rs = C

$$r + s = -1 rs = -2$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to -1 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*-1 = -\frac{1}{2}. You can also see that the midpoint of r and s corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the parabola represented by the quadratic equation y=x^2+Bx+C. The values of r and s are equidistant from the center by an unknown quantity u. Express r and s with respect to variable u. <div style='padding: 8px'><img src='https://opalmath.azureedge.net/customsolver/quadraticgraph.png' style='width: 100%;max-width: 700px' /></div>

$$r = -\frac{1}{2} - u s = -\frac{1}{2} + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = -2

$$(-\frac{1}{2} - u) (-\frac{1}{2} + u) = -2$$

Simplify by expanding (a -b) (a + b) = a^2 – b^2

$$\frac{1}{4} - u^2 = -2$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting \frac{1}{4} on both sides

$$-u^2 = -2-\frac{1}{4} = -\frac{9}{4}$$

Simplify the expression by multiplying -1 on both sides and take the square root to obtain the value of unknown variable u

$$u^2 = \frac{9}{4} u = \pm\sqrt{\frac{9}{4}} = \pm \frac{3}{2}$$

The factors r and s are the solutions to the quadratic equation. Substitute the value of u to compute the r and s.

$$r =-\frac{1}{2} - \frac{3}{2} = -2 s = -\frac{1}{2} + \frac{3}{2} = 1$$

Evaluate

$$\left(a-1\right)\left(a+2\right)$$