How do you factor 32x^5 + 64x^4 + 16x?

1 Answer
Mar 30, 2018

(x+(2+sqrt(2))/2)(x-(sqrt(2)-2)/2)

Explanation:

1) Factor
You can factor 16 out of all three terms
16(2x^5+4x^4+x)
You can also factor x from all three terms
16x(2x^4+4x^3+1)

2) You plug it into the quadratic formula.
x=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a)
You get the roots of
x=-(2+sqrt(2))/2, (sqrt(2)-2)/2

3) You make them factored
(x+(2+sqrt(2))/2)(x-(sqrt(2)-2)/2)