document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=2139>Question 2139</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Can this be factored and what are the factors?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " __3<BR>\n" );
document.write( " X  - 1   (thats X cubed minus 1)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thanks<BR>\n" );
document.write( "david r.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #847 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><B>longjonsilver(2297)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=longjonsilver><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=longjonsilver><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=847\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if you need to find factors of a polynomial, then the factor theorem is the place to start...it can be tedious, but tough :-).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You look for a value (a number) that when you put into the polynomial, you get zero...start with +1, then try -1 then +2 etc...\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "if x was 1...(1)^3 -1 is indeed zero, so (x-1) is a factor of te polynomial.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "To find the other factor, you have to divide your answer into the original. To visualise what we have done so far, an example helps...the question has given you a number, say 27 and asked you to factorise it, ie write it as 2 numbers multiplied together. The first factor is found by trial and error...try 2...nope...try 3...yes. So to find the other number (here, 9) we say \"what is 27 divided by 3\"?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "likewise...what is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E3+-1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E3+-1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > divided by (x-1)? Use long division and i think the answer is x^2+x+1. These are factors, so leave it at that.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "jon </SPAN>\n" );
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