Need help with function problem

**jenny1201** · December 14th 2011, 01:14 PM

I am totally stuck on a problem (mid year final review) and I can't find help anywhere on the internet. Could someone help me understand how to go about solving the problem? I know that there are 3 different questions here, but they are all related. I'm stressing out about this test in a big way so I would HUGELY appreciate a little help so I can move past this problem and start studying something else. I can't figure out how to do exponents here, so the small #s are exponents.

Given: f(x)=X3 - X2 - 2X

a) what is the degree of the function
b) How many zeros does this function have
c) Factor the function to find its three factors

**Siron** · December 14th 2011, 01:18 PM

Given: $f(x)=x^3-x^2-2x$

What have you tried? Where are you stuck?

**e^(i*pi)** · December 14th 2011, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by jenny1201

I am totally stuck on a problem (mid year final review) and I can't find help anywhere on the internet. Could someone help me understand how to go about solving the problem? I know that there are 3 different questions here, but they are all related. I'm stressing out about this test in a big way so I would HUGELY appreciate a little help so I can move past this problem and start studying something else. I can't figure out how to do exponents here, so the small #s are exponents.

Given: f(x)=X3 - X2 - 2X

a) what is the degree of the function
b) How many zeros does this function have
c) Factor the function to find its three factors

A) The degree of the function is the same as the largest exponent (power of x). For example $ax^2+bx+c=0$ is second order.

B) This is nearly always the same as the degree.

C) Start by factoring out the common factor of x. Then apply the null factor law

**jenny1201** · December 15th 2011, 06:18 AM

I got as far as to find the GCF (I think) which is x(x^2-x-2). Then I get stuck as to how to factor from there. Thanks so much for the help thus far. You guys are lifesavers. My test is tomorrow and this is the only thing I am stuck on.