Find the values of x when x^2-6=x

We need to factorise this equation to solve it.

The first step for factorisation is to make the equation equal to zero. We can do this by subtracting x from both sides to get:

x²-x-6=0

The coefficent in front of the x term is -1. We need to find two numbers that sum to -1 and mulitply together to make -6.

The two numbers that do this are -3 and 2. We use these in brackets as follows:

(x-3)(x+2)=0

Now to find the two possible values of x we need to solve the equation in each of the brackets individually. 

ie. solve x-3=0 and x+2=0

So our values for x are -2 and 3.

ME
Answered by Max E. Maths tutor

7181 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

In a cinema, male to female ratio is - 1:3. The ratio of the females, who like popcorn to females who don't like popcorn is 2:1. 10 girls don't like popcorn. How many people are there in the cinema altogether?


Solve x^2+6x-7 by completing the square.


The perimeter of an isosceles triangle is 16cm the lengths of the sides are (x+3)(this is the length of the opposite side as well) and (x+4). Determine the value of x .


What is a box-plot diagram?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning