Factoring and quadratics · Grades 10–11
Factor a trinomial
Free worked example · No account needed
Example question
x² + 5x + 6
Work through it
- 1
Find two numbers with product 6 and sum 5: 2 and 3.
For x² + bx + c, look for numbers that multiply to c and add to b.
- 2
(x + 2)(x + 3)
The two numbers become constants in the factors. Multiplying them back gives the original trinomial.
Final answer
(x + 2)(x + 3)