Question 64084
Factor the polynomial by grouping the first two terms and the last two terms:

x^3 – 4x^2 + 2x - 8
{{{(x^3-4x^2)+(2x-8)}}}  Factor out the GCF out of each parentheses.
{{{x^2(x-4)+2(x-4)}}}  
x^2(x-4) and 2(x-4) both have a (x-4).  Factor out the GCF x-4.  When you do this {{{x^2(x-4)/(x-4)=x^2}}} and {{{2(x-4)/(x-4)=2}}}, so you have:
{{{(x-4)(x^2+2)}}}
Happy Calculating!!!