Hey there! The answer you're looking for is (a + 1) x (a - 6)
To solve the answer
Try the factor by splitting the middle term
Factoring a2-5a-6
The first term is, a2 its coefficient is 1 .
The middle term is, -5a its coefficient is -5 .
The last term, "the constant", is -6
Heres the steps of how to solve it enjoy!
Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant
1 x -6 = -6
Step-2 : Find two factors of -6 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is -5 .
-6 + 1 = -5
Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -6 and 1
a2 - 6a + 1a - 6
Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, and pulling out like factors :
a x (a-6)
Step- 5: Add up the last 2 terms, and pulling out common factors :
1 x (a-6)
Step-6 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
(a+1) x (a-6)
Which is the desired factorization
So your final answer would be :
(a + 1) x (a - 6)
Hope this helped
Tobey
