Factor the trinomial below: x^{2}+-3x+-18

Answer 1

To factor the trinomial x^2 - 3x - 18, we need to find two numbers that multiply to -18 and add up to -3.

The two numbers are -6 and 3 because -6 * 3 = -18 and -6 + 3 = -3.

Therefore, we can rewrite the trinomial as:

x^2 - 6x + 3x - 18

Factor by grouping:

x(x - 6) + 3(x - 6)

Factor out the common factor:

(x + 3)(x - 6)

So, the factored form of the trinomial x^2 - 3x - 18 is (x + 3)(x - 6).