Solve the equation [tex]x^2 - 5x = 6[/tex] by factoring. Type each solution in a box below. If an answer is a fraction, enter it as a fraction (do not convert to a decimal).

[tex]x = \{\square, \square\}[/tex]



Answer :

To solve the equation [tex]\(x^2 - 5x = 6\)[/tex] by factoring, follow these steps:

1. Rewrite the equation:

Start with the given equation:
[tex]\[ x^2 - 5x = 6 \][/tex]

2. Move all terms to one side:

Subtract 6 from both sides to set the equation to zero:
[tex]\[ x^2 - 5x - 6 = 0 \][/tex]

3. Factor the quadratic equation:

Look for two numbers that multiply to give the constant term ([tex]\(-6\)[/tex]) and add to give the coefficient of the linear term ([tex]\(-5\)[/tex]).

These two numbers are [tex]\(-6\)[/tex] and [tex]\(1\)[/tex], because:
[tex]\[ (-6) \cdot 1 = -6 \quad \text{and} \quad (-6) + 1 = -5 \][/tex]

Therefore, we can factor the quadratic as:
[tex]\[ (x - 6)(x + 1) = 0 \][/tex]

4. Set each factor equal to zero and solve for [tex]\(x\)[/tex]:

[tex]\[ x - 6 = 0 \quad \text{or} \quad x + 1 = 0 \][/tex]

Solve each equation:
[tex]\[ x = 6 \quad \text{or} \quad x = -1 \][/tex]

So the solutions to the equation [tex]\(x^2 - 5x = 6\)[/tex] are:
[tex]\[ x = \{ -1, 6 \} \][/tex]

These are the solutions that satisfy the original equation.