How do you factor x^2-x-3?

Question

It says that if it is unfactorable then you have to find the discriminent

Answer 1

 

 

This cannot be factored, therefore you must use the quadratic formuala where

 

x= -(b) ±[√(b)^2-4ac/2a

the "discriminent"is the argument of the square root, which is b^2-4ac.

so for this problem, a=1, b=-1 and c=-3

substituting,

(-1)^2 -4(1)(-3)