What is the method for factorising the expression 'x^2 + 3x + 2'?
- First look at the constant coefficient, which in this case is 2. You need two numbers which will multiply together to make this number. The only pairs of numbers that will make 2, are (1 and 2) or (-1 and -2).2. Secondly, the coefficient of the x term needs to be observed, which is 3 here. This must be made by adding together two of these numbers. Looking at the pairs of numbers which we are already limited to, we can see that 1 and 2 work, as they sum to 3.3. This allows the expression to be factorised into the following brackets:(x+1)(x+2)
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