(x+2)^2-5(x+2)+6

2 min read Jun 16, 2024
(x+2)^2-5(x+2)+6

Factoring Quadratic Expressions: (x+2)^2 - 5(x+2) + 6

This article will explore the factorization of the quadratic expression (x+2)^2 - 5(x+2) + 6. We will employ a technique known as substitution to simplify the expression and make factorization easier.

Understanding the Expression

The given expression, (x+2)^2 - 5(x+2) + 6, is a quadratic expression with a slightly complex structure. It involves the term (x+2) repeated multiple times. This suggests a potential simplification using substitution.

Applying Substitution

Let's introduce a new variable, say 'y', to represent (x+2).

y = x + 2

Substituting 'y' into the original expression, we get:

y^2 - 5y + 6

Factoring the Simplified Expression

Now we have a simple quadratic expression in terms of 'y'. We can factorize this expression by finding two numbers that multiply to give 6 and add up to -5. These numbers are -2 and -3.

Therefore, the factored form of y^2 - 5y + 6 is:

(y - 2)(y - 3)

Re-substituting to Get the Final Factorization

Finally, we substitute back 'x+2' for 'y' to get the final factored form of the original expression:

(x + 2 - 2)(x + 2 - 3)

Simplifying this, we get:

(x)(x - 1)

Conclusion

Therefore, the factored form of the quadratic expression (x+2)^2 - 5(x+2) + 6 is x(x - 1). By using substitution, we transformed a complex quadratic into a simpler form, making the factorization process straightforward.

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