SOLUTION: factor the following by GROUPING. x^3-3x^2+4x-12 Would it be 12-4x-3x^2+x^3?

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: factor the following by GROUPING. x^3-3x^2+4x-12 Would it be 12-4x-3x^2+x^3?      Log On


   



Question 120483: factor the following by GROUPING.
x^3-3x^2+4x-12
Would it be 12-4x-3x^2+x^3?

Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Factoring is very important. Being able to factor is going to make it possible for you solve many problems.
The idea here is to find a factor that all the terms have in+common, and pull+it+out+front.
Factoring means to write an algebraic expression (or monomial, or polynomial) as a multiplicationto be able to simplify algebraic expressions.
The first thing to look for when you have to factor is common+terms.

x%5E3-3x%5E2%2B4x-12….group first two terms and second two terms together
%28x%5E3-3x%5E2%29+%2B+%284x-12%29…….factor out common x%5E2 from the first group, and common 4 from the second group
x%5E2%28x+-3%29+%2B+4%28x-3%29…….combine like terms
%28x%5E2+%2B+4%29%28x-3%29………..since x%5E2+%2B+4 cannot be factored, your answer will be:
%28x%5E2+%2B+4%29%28x-3%29