Question

How do you factor the expression `3x^3-27x`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, we can rewrite and factor as `x3` out of this expression as:

`(3x * x^2) - (3x * 9) =>`

`3x(x^2 - 9)`

Now we can use this formula for the special case of this quadratic to complete the factoring:

`color(red)(x)^2 - color(blue)(y)^2 = (color(red)(x) + color(blue)(y))(color(red)(x) - color(blue)(y))`

`3x(x^2 - 9) =>`

`3x(color(red)(x)^2 - color(blue)(3)^2) =>`

`3x(color(red)(x) + color(blue)(3))(color(red)(x) - color(blue)(3))`