How do you factor 5p2−p−6?

1 Answer
Don't Memorise
May 30, 2015

5p2−p−6

We can Split the Middle Term of this expression to factorise it
In this technique, if we have to factorise an expression like ap2+bp+c, we need to think of 2 numbers such that:

N1⋅N2=a⋅c=5⋅(−6)=−30
and
N1+N2=b=−1

After trying out a few numbers we get N1=−6 and N2=5
−6⋅(5)=−30, and 5+(−6)=−1

5p2−p−6=5p2+5p−6p−6

=5p(p+1)−6(p+1)

=(5p−6)(p+1)

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