Answer :
(x+a)^2 = x^2 +2ax+a^2
x^2-2x-168
x^2-2x -168
"complete" the square
x^2 -2x +(1^2) -168 -(1^2)
factor
(x-1)^2 -169
this is a difference of squares
(x-1)^2 -13^2
a^2 -b^2= (a+b)(a-b)
((x-1)+13)((x-1)-13)
=
(x+12)(x-14)
x^2-2x-168
x^2-2x -168
"complete" the square
x^2 -2x +(1^2) -168 -(1^2)
factor
(x-1)^2 -169
this is a difference of squares
(x-1)^2 -13^2
a^2 -b^2= (a+b)(a-b)
((x-1)+13)((x-1)-13)
=
(x+12)(x-14)