Math question?

Question

Who invented factorizing polynomials?

Answer 1

Thomas Harriot, an English mathematician (1560 -1621). The St. Andrews history of math web-site notes that:

>Thomas Harriot did outstanding work on the solution of equations, recognising negative roots and complex roots in a way that makes his solutions look like a present day solution. He made the observation that if a, b, c are the roots of a cubic then the cubic is (x - a)(x - b)(x - c) = 0. This is a major step forward in understanding which Harriot then carried forward to equations of higher degree.