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A quadratic is an equation where the highest power of is , like . To factor means to rewrite a sum as a multiplication. A solution, also called a zero or a root, is a value of that makes the equation true.
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The one move is finding two numbers. For , look for two numbers that multiply to and add to . In , the numbers and multiply to and add to , so the factored form is .
Then use the zero rule: if two things multiply to zero, one of them must be zero. Set each parenthesis equal to zero and solve. Here and . Notice how the signs flip.