Funny that, I did factorizing a little earlier in Math, I like just learned this junk. Mehhhh.
I'll just do some examples,
x2-4
Now you just break it down,
(x+2) (x-2)
There you go!
Now when you foil it you get x time x making x2.
When you times x and 2, x and -2 you get 2x and -2x which cancel themselves out.
Lastly, you do 2 time -2 which would be -4!
Let's do a harder one,
x2-2x-8
Now break it down,
(x+2) (x-4)
I did this like the last time, only we have the consider the number in the middle.
First you do x times x to get x[sup2[/sup].
Then you time x and 2, x and -4 to make 2x and -4x. You add these to make -2x for the sum.
Lastly you time 2 and -4 to make -8.
Let me explain something.
x2+2x+1
x2+1x-12
x2-2x+1
x2-1x-12
Here are the four different types of questions for this you'll come across.
There are going to be ones like this too,
16x2+4x+4
But I don't really know how to do these.
Anyway, when you have a question that looks like this,
x2+2x+1
With two pluses, that means the factoring answers will BOTH be pluses as well.
(x+1) (x+1)
When you have a question like this,
x2+1x-12
With the first being a plus and the last being a minus, that will make the answer one plus and one minus.
(x+4) (x-3)
Now,
x2-2x+1
When the first symbol is minus and second is plus, that means BOTH factors will be minus.
(x-1) (x-1)
See?
Lastly, we have,
x2-1x-12
Where both symbols are minus. That means one factor is going to be minus and the other plus.
(x-4) (x+3)
Let's do a quick over view,
Q A
+ and + = + and +
+ and - = + and -
- and + = - and -
- and - = - and +
Now here's a question for you,
What would the answer be to,
x2-6x+9?
EDIT:
Seems I'm too late to help, heh.