Factorise Simple Quadratics

Factorising simple quadratics may seem difficult at first, but there is a simple way to find the correct answer.

When factorising simple quadratics, your answer will look like this:

$$(x+a)(x+b)$$

To find the values of $a$ and $b$, you will need to follow these steps.

How to factorise a quadratic

$$x^2+7x+10$$

The quadratics has two numbers in it we are interested in. The 7 (before the x) and the 10. We need to find two numbers that add together to make 7 and times together to make 10.

$$2+5=7$$

$$2\times 5=10$$

Our numbers will be 2 and 5. Lets put them into the brackets!

$$(x+2)(x+5)$$

It does not matter which way around we put the numbers, since all multiplications work the same way whichever way round you write them.