Determine the factors of x2 - 6x - 8.

prime

(x + 4)(x - 2)

(x - 4)(x + 2)

(x + 8)(x - 1)

Cannot be factored

x² - 6x - 8

x² breaks down into x and x 
8 breaks down into 1 and 8, 2 and 4, 4 and 2, or 8 and 1.

(x+4)(x-2) = x² + 2x - 8
(x-4)(x+2) = x² - 2x - 8
(x-4)(x-2) = x² - 6x + 8
(x+4)(x+2) = x² + 6x + 8