Question 236937
{{{x^3-2x^2-7x-4=0}}} can be solved as follows:


divide {{{x^3-2x^2-7x-4=0}}} by {{{x-4}}} to get:


{{{(x-4) * x^2 + 2x + 1 = 0}}}


factor {{{x^2 + 2x + 1}}} to get:


{{{(x-4) * (x+1) * (x+1) = 0}}}


x = 4 or x = -1


I looked at the original equation and figured that if there was a way to divide (x-?) into it, then the ? had to be either 4 or a factor of 4 because that would make the division come out even.


I tried (x-2) into x^3 - 2x^2 - 7x - 4 but that didn't work.


I then saw that (x-4) might work and tried it.


It did.