SOLUTION: How do you factor x^3-5x^2+60x? I got as far as x(x^2-5x+60) but I am unsure of how to continue. Thanks!

Question 677537: How do you factor x^3-5x^2+60x? I got as far as x(x^2-5x+60) but I am unsure of how to continue. Thanks!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Start with the given expression.

Factor out the GCF .

Now let's try to factor the inner expression

---------------------------------------------------------------

Looking at the expression , we can see that the first coefficient is , the second coefficient is , and the last term is .

Now multiply the first coefficient by the last term to get .

Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient ?

To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of (the previous product).

Factors of :
1,2,3,4,5,6,10,12,15,20,30,60
-1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-10,-12,-15,-20,-30,-60

Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.

These factors pair up and multiply to .
1*60 = 60
2*30 = 60
3*20 = 60
4*15 = 60
5*12 = 60
6*10 = 60
(-1)*(-60) = 60
(-2)*(-30) = 60
(-3)*(-20) = 60
(-4)*(-15) = 60
(-5)*(-12) = 60
(-6)*(-10) = 60

Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient :

First Number	Second Number	Sum
1	60	1+60=61
2	30	2+30=32
3	20	3+20=23
4	15	4+15=19
5	12	5+12=17
6	10	6+10=16
-1	-60	-1+(-60)=-61
-2	-30	-2+(-30)=-32
-3	-20	-3+(-20)=-23
-4	-15	-4+(-15)=-19
-5	-12	-5+(-12)=-17
-6	-10	-6+(-10)=-16

From the table, we can see that there are no pairs of numbers which add to . So cannot be factored.

===============================================================

Answer:

So simply factors to

In other words, .

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