Factor: 1 + x³ There are two ways to do it. First method: Long division: Write it in descending powers and put in placeholders for the x² and x terms: x³ + 0x² + 0x + 1 This can be divided evenly by x + 1 x² - x + 1 x + 1)x³ + 0x² + 0x + 1 x³ + x² -x² + 0x -x² - x x + 1 x + 1 0 So you see that it factors as divisor times quotient: (x + 1)(x² - x + 1) Second method: But most people just learn the rule for factoring sum and difference of cubes, so they won't have to do the long division like I did above. The sign between the cube terms is the same sign as the sign in the first factor and opposite the sign in the second factor. A³ ± B³ = (A ± B)(A² ∓ AB + B²) 1³ + x³ = (1 + x)(1² - 1x + x²) = (1 + x)(1 - x + x²) That's the same as (x + 1)(x² - x + 1). Edwin