Given 6 + 2x + 3x3 - x4, how would I rearrange it into descending order to be factored? I know addition is commutative, but given that x4 is negative, how do I move that without changing the expression?
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Given 6 + 2x + 3x3 - x4, how would I rearrange it into descending order to be factored? I know addition is commutative, but given that x4 is negative, how do I move that without changing the expression?
Hey zsf1990.
Try using:
6 + 2x + 3x^3 - x^4 = - (x^4 - 3x^3 - 2x - 6)
Thanks! Any chance you could explain how to factor 5x3 - 40? -40 isn't a perfect cube, so I'm feeling lost. This is what I get for missing a lecture I guess.
EDIT: Nevermind. Factor out a five to get x3 - 8, which is a difference of cubes. It's always the little things, lol.
You have a typo in the question,Quote:
Originally Posted by zsf1990
I'm not sure I'm following. The question mark is a typo?
Did you want to factorQuote:
Originally Posted by Plato
You seemed to say factor
Ah. My bad. It was factor 5x[sup]3 - 40.
As I move on with my homework, what are the steps to factoring this polynomial? 5(3-4x)2 - 8(3-4x) (5x-1) I'm not sure where to start.
No, the OP asked how to factorQuote:
Originally Posted by PlatoDid you want to factor
You seemed to say factor
and then went on to say in the next sentence that -40 is not a perfect cube.