How do you factor #12x^4 + 11x^3 -26x^2 + x + 2#?

1 Answer
EZ as pi
Oct 2, 2016

#(x+2)(12x^3-13x^2+1)#

Explanation:

There are 5 terms, so we will have to group them first.
The first 3 terms have an obvious factor of #x^2#
Let's try with those...

#color(red)((12x^4 + 11x^3 -26x^2)) + (x + 2)#

#=color(red)(x^2)(12x^2+11x-26) + (x+2)#

#=x^2(12x-13)color(blue)((x+2)) + color(blue)((x+2))#

#=color(blue)((x+2))(x^2(12x-13) +1)#

#=(x+2)(12x^3-13x^2+1)#

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