Factor a cubic function?

Question

f(x) = x^3-6x^2+24x-20

Answer 1

I guess the trick is finding the value of x in the expression such that f(x) = 0, you can do this by guessing a number and checking it.
Then take that value of x say a, a=x
x-a = 0
from this you get one of the factors of the expression as (x-a).

Then divide the first expression by (x-a) and get yourself a quadratic expression say (bx^2+ cx^ + d).
Hence you have factorized your expression to

(x-a)(bx^2+ cx^ + d)

if you wish you can go ahead and factorize the quadratic equation further.

I hope I helped.

Answer 2

x^2(x-6) + 4(6x-5)
not sure if this helps, but it is the break-up method of factoring.

Answer 3

I got:

x^2 (x - 6) + 4( 6x - 5)

Answer 4

If a, b, c are the three complex cube roots of 2, then

f(x) = (x - (a^2 - 2a + 2)) (x - (b^2 - 2b + 2)) (x - (c^2 - 2c + 2))

[For example, a could be the real valued cube root of 2, and b,c are then a times (-1 +/- sqrt(-3))/2.]

Approx: (x - 1.067559) (x - (2.466221 - 3.556977 i)) (x - (2.466221 + 3.556977 i))

Dan

Answer 5

the best thing i can do is that
X^2(X-6)+4(6X-5)

Answer 6

this does not factor nicely. You can factor out the zero (x int) of 1.0675...., but thats it.

Answer 7

this does not factor nicely. You can factor out the zero (x int) of 1.0675...., but thats it.
Source(s):