How do you factor x3−8x2+17x−10?

1 Answer
Alan P.
Apr 10, 2015

Polynomials of degree 3 and above can be very difficult to factor.

One trick is to hope for an integer solution.

If an integer solution exists the constant term in the factors must be one of the factors of the constant term of the expression.

In this case the factors of 10 are ±1,±2,±5

Substituting 1 into the expression x3−8x+17x−10
gives 1−8+17−10=0
so x=1 is a root and (x−1) is a factor of this expression.

Using synthetic division to divide x3−8x2+17x−10x−1
we get x2−7x+10
(sorry I can't see any way to neatly demonstrate synthetic division here)
with obvious factors (x−2)(x−5)

So
(x3−8x2+17x−10)=(x−1)(x−2)(x−5)

Late addition: Here is an image to help explain the synthetic division
enter image source here

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