How do you factor 6x^3-48?

1 Answer
May 3, 2018

6(x-2)(x^2 + 2x + 4)

Explanation:

To factor, we have to find the GCF, or Greatest Common Factor. This means the largest factor that both expressions have.

Therefore, the GCF is 6. So when we factor it becomes:
6(x^3 - 8)

We can still factor this further.

(x^3 - 8) is in the form a^3 - b^3, which factors down to (a-b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)

Therefore, that becomes:
(x-2)(x^2 + 2x + 4)

So the completely factored answer is:
6(x-2)(x^2 + 2x + 4)

Hope this helps!