Step-1 : Multiply the coefficient of the first term by the constant 1 • -2 = -2
Step-2 : Find two factors of -2 whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term, which is 1 .
Step-3 : Rewrite the polynomial splitting the middle term using the two factors found in step 2 above, -1 and 2
x2 - 1x + 2x - 2
Step-4 : Add up the first 2 terms, pulling out like factors :
x • (x-1)
Add up the last 2 terms, pulling out common factors :
2 • (x-1)
Step-5 : Add up the four terms of step 4 :
(x+2) • (x-1)
Which is the desired factorization