Is it possible to factor y=4x^3-13x-6 y=4x313x6? If so, what are the factors?

1 Answer
Mar 14, 2016

4x^3-13x-6=(x-2)(2x+3)(2x+1)4x313x6=(x2)(2x+3)(2x+1)

Explanation:

Since there is nothing obvious to factor out at the beginning, start by plugging in small numbers for xx to see if you can get the equation to equal 00.

Plugging in x=2x=2 gives 00, so x-2x2 is a factor.

Now divide 4x^3-13x-64x313x6 by x-2x2 using polynomial long division or synthetic division. If you need help with this step, say something.

(4x^3-13x-6)/(x-2)=4x^2+8x+34x313x6x2=4x2+8x+3

So, from here we know that

4x^3-13x-6=(x-2)(4x^2+8x+3)4x313x6=(x2)(4x2+8x+3)

So now all we need to do is factor 4x^2+8x+34x2+8x+3. Looking for a pair of factors of 1212 whose sum is 88, we see that 2,62,6 works:

4x^2+8x+34x2+8x+3

=4x^2+2x+6x+3=4x2+2x+6x+3

=2x(2x+1)+3(2x+1)=2x(2x+1)+3(2x+1)

=(2x+3)(2x+1)=(2x+3)(2x+1)

Thus,

4x^3-13x-6=(x-2)(2x+3)(2x+1)4x313x6=(x2)(2x+3)(2x+1)