Solve k^2+4k-12

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

Factor

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

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as k^{2}+ak+bk-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 k^{2}+4k-12 as \left(k^{2}-2k\right)+\left(6k-12\right).

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

Square 4.

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

Multiply -4 times -12.

$$k=\frac{-4±\sqrt{16+48}}{2}$$

Add 16 to 48.

$$k=\frac{-4±\sqrt{64}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 64.

$$k=\frac{-4±8}{2}$$

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

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

Divide 4 by 2.

$$k=2$$

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

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

Divide -12 by 2.

$$k=-6$$

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}.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

$$r + s = -4 rs = -12$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to -4 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*-4 = -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>

$$r = -2 - u s = -2 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = -12

$$(-2 - u) (-2 + u) = -12$$

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

$$4 - u^2 = -12$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting 4 on both sides

$$-u^2 = -12-4 = -16$$

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

$$u^2 = 16 u = \pm\sqrt{16} = \pm 4$$

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

$$r =-2 - 4 = -6 s = -2 + 4 = 2$$

Evaluate

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