SOLUTION: {{{x^3-2x^2-4x+8}}} Please help me factor this. I don't know where to start.

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Question 147194: x%5E3-2x%5E2-4x%2B8
Please help me factor this. I don't know where to start.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

x%5E3-2x%5E2-4x%2B8 Start with the given expression


%28x%5E3-2x%5E2%29%2B%28-4x%2B8%29 Group like terms


x%5E2%28x-2%29-4%28x-2%29 Factor out the GCF x%5E2 out of the first group. Factor out the GCF -4 out of the second group


%28x%5E2-4%29%28x-2%29 Since we have the common term x-2, we can combine like terms


%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%28x-2%29 Factor x%5E2-4 to get %28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29


%28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%5E2 Rewrite %28x-2%29%28x-2%29 as %28x-2%29%5E2


So x%5E3-2x%5E2-4x%2B8 factors to %28x%2B2%29%28x-2%29%5E2