Solve x^2-12x+11

$$x ^ { 2 } - 12 x + 11$$

Factor

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

Solution Steps

Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+11. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=-12 ab=1\times 11=11$$

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.

$$a=-11 b=-1$$

Rewrite x^{2}-12x+11 as \left(x^{2}-11x\right)+\left(-x+11\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-11x\right)+\left(-x+11\right)$$

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

$$x\left(x-11\right)-\left(x-11\right)$$

Factor out common term x-11 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

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.

$$x^{2}-12x+11=0$$

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.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-12\right)±\sqrt{\left(-12\right)^{2}-4\times 11}}{2}$$

Square -12.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-12\right)±\sqrt{144-4\times 11}}{2}$$

Multiply -4 times 11.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-12\right)±\sqrt{144-44}}{2}$$

Add 144 to -44.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-12\right)±\sqrt{100}}{2}$$

Take the square root of 100.

$$x=\frac{-\left(-12\right)±10}{2}$$

The opposite of -12 is 12.

$$x=\frac{12±10}{2}$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{12±10}{2} when ± is plus. Add 12 to 10.

$$x=\frac{22}{2}$$

Divide 22 by 2.

$$x=11$$

Now solve the equation x=\frac{12±10}{2} when ± is minus. Subtract 10 from 12.

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

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 11 for x_{1} and 1 for x_{2}.

$$x^{2}-12x+11=\left(x-11\right)\left(x-1\right)$$

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.

$$x ^ 2 -12x +11 = 0$$

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

$$r + s = 12 rs = 11$$

Two numbers r and s sum up to 12 exactly when the average of the two numbers is \frac{1}{2}*12 = 6. 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>

$$r = 6 - u s = 6 + u$$

To solve for unknown quantity u, substitute these in the product equation rs = 11

$$(6 - u) (6 + u) = 11$$

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

$$36 - u^2 = 11$$

Simplify the expression by subtracting 36 on both sides

$$-u^2 = 11-36 = -25$$

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

$$u^2 = 25 u = \pm\sqrt{25} = \pm 5$$

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

$$r =6 - 5 = 1 s = 6 + 5 = 11$$

Evaluate

$$\left(x-11\right)\left(x-1\right)$$