Question

Factorize: 

x² – 4x – 12

Answer 1

Given, 

x² – 4x – 12 

Now first find the numbers whose

Sum = - 4 and 

Product = - 12 

Required numbers are 6 and 2, 

So we get; 

x² – 4x – 12 

= x² – 6x + 2x – 12 

= x(x – 6) + 2(x – 6) 

= (x – 6)(x + 2)