# Math Help - How to factor?

1. ## How to factor?

How do I factor an equation like this:

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

?

2. ## Re: How to factor?

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 $7y^3-2y^2-5y~?$
If so, let $y=(x-3).$

3. ## Re: How to factor?

Originally Posted by Plato
Can you factor $7y^3-2y^2-5y~?$
If so, let $y=(x-3).$
Thanks, does this sound right:

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

4. ## Re: How to factor?

Originally Posted by tmac20
Thanks, does this sound right:

$(x-3)[7(x-3)+5][(x-3)-1]$
$(x-3)[7(x-3)+5][(x-3)-1]=(x-3)(7x-16)(x-4)$

5. ## Re: How to factor?

Originally Posted by Plato
$(x-3)[7(x-3)+5][(x-3)-1]=(x-3)(7x-16)(x-4)$
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?

6. ## Re: How to factor?

Consider $x^2-8x-4y^2-8y+12$ as a quadratic expression in $x$, so use the quadratic formula to factore the expression.