Question

Factorise: x² – 17x + 16

Answer 1

First find the two numbers whose sum= -17 and product=16

Clearly, the numbers are 16 and 1

∴ we get, x² – 17x + 16 

= x² – 16x – 1x + 16

= x(x-16) – 1(x-16)

= (x-16) (x-1)