X2 plus 5x - 6 equals 0?

Answer 1

First, factorise:

x2 + 5x - 6 = (x + 6)(x - 1) = 0; whence, either

x + 6 = 0, or

x - 1 = 0.

The product of two factors equals zero, exactly when one or other of the two factors equals zero.

Thus, the solution must be x = 1 or -6. If x equals either of those two values, then the original equation will be true.