Thread: Factorising

Express x^4 - x in its fully factorise form.

I went through factorising methods:

common factor
difference of two squares X
breaking brackets X
quadratic formula X
polynomial ?

I would say answer = x(x^3 - 1)
But that is way to simple for the level i'm taking, so im asking if polynomials are involved here? If not, what else should i try?
Please don't show me the solution, just answer yes/no.
Thanks

Originally Posted by r_maths

Express x^4 - x in its fully factorise form.

I went through factorising methods:

common factor
difference of two squares X
breaking brackets X
quadratic formula X
polynomial ?

I would say answer = x(x^3 - 1)
But that is way to simple for the level i'm taking, so im asking if polynomials are involved here? If not, what else should i try?
Please don't show me the solution, just answer yes/no.
Thanks

You can do more.

Thus,

Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker

You can do more.

that could also factorise more?


?

Originally Posted by r_maths

that could also factorise more?


?

No. (x+1)(x+1)=(x+1)^2=x^2 +2x + 1 =/= x^2 + x +1
if you like to play with that you can always write
((x+1)^2) - x
but I would leave it the way it is x^2 + x +1

Originally Posted by Aglaia

No. (x+1)(x+1)=(x+1)^2=x^2 +2x + 1 =/= x^2 + x +1
if you like to play with that you can always write
((x+1)^2) - x
but I would leave it the way it is x^2 + x +1

cheers, i should of checkd with FOIL