Thread: How to factor?

How do I factor an equation like this:

7(x-3)^3 -2(x-3)^2 -5(x-3)

?

Originally Posted by tmac20

How do I factor an equation like this:
7(x-3)^3 -2(x-3)^2 -5(x-3)

Can you factor
If so, let

Originally Posted by Plato

Can you factor
If so, let

Thanks, does this sound right:

(x-3)[7(x-3)+5][(x-3)-1]

Originally Posted by tmac20

Thanks, does this sound right:

Originally Posted by Plato

Thanks, can you help with with one more problem:
Factor:
x^2 -8x-4y^2 +12-8y

I've gotten this far:
(x-6)(x-2) -4y(y+2)

Can I factor even more from there?

Consider as a quadratic expression in , so use the quadratic formula to factore the expression.