To factor the quadratic expression x² – 6x – 16, we need to find two numbers that multiply to -16 (the constant term) and add up to -6 (the coefficient of the x term).
Upon checking the factors of -16, we find that -8 and 2 meet these criteria. This is because:
- -8 * 2 = -16
- -8 + 2 = -6
Now, we can express the quadratic in its factored form. It can be written as:
(x – 8)(x + 2)
Therefore, the factored form of x² – 6x – 16 is (x – 8)(x + 2).