Original quadratic

THIS will be the end result after

factoring. We know it’s plus and minus
because two numbers need to be
multiplied to get that negative 3; the
only way is to multiply a positive and
negative number.

Now we just need to know what the

factors will be.

Look back at the original. The form of

this equation is ax2 + bx + c. When you
FOIL the factored version (the version
you’re aiming for in this problem), the
factors will ADD UP to the b term and
MULTIPLY OUT to the c term.
Whenever I factor, I always draw that little
plus over the b and that x over the c to
remind myself. Then I ask myself (in this
case), what two numbers add up to 2 and
multiply out to negative 3?

Just guess and check.

3 1