Here is how to factor an expression ax 2 + bx + c, where a > 0:

1. Write out all the pairs of numbers that, when multiplied, produce a .
2. Write out all the pairs of numbers that, when multiplied, produce c .
3. Pick one of the a pairs -- (a 1, a 2) -- and one of the c pairs -- (c 1,c 2) .
4. If c > 0 : Compute a 1 c 1 + a 2 c 2 . If | a 1 c 1 + a 2 c 2| = b , then the factored form of the quadratic is

(a 1 x + c 2)(a 2 x + c 1) if b > 0 .

(a 1 x - c 2)(a 2 x - c 1) if b < 0 .

5. If a 1 c 1 + a 2 c 2b , compute a 1 c 2 + a 2 c 1 . If a 1 c 2 + a 2 c 1 = b, then the factored form of the

quadratic is (a 1 x + c 1)(a 2 x + c 2). If a 1 c 2 + a 2 c 1b , pick another set of pairs.
6. If c < 0 : Compute a 1 c 1 -a 2 c 2 . If | a 1 c 1 - a 2 c 2| = b , then the factored form of the quadratic is:
(a 1 x - c 2)(a 2 x + c 1) where a 1 c 1 > a 2 c 2 if b > 0 and a 1 c 1 < a 2c 2 if b < 0 .