Using the factor theorem, factorise x^4 - 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 11x - 6

Well the question states that it wants you to use the factor theorem so it would be a good idea to write down the factor theorem to remind ourselves."A polynomial f(x) has a factor (x - a) if and only if f(a) = 0" There's no exact science behind this next part, we just start guessing at factors:f(-1) = (-1)^4 - 3(-1)^3 - 3(-1)^2 + 11(-1) - 6 = -16f(1) = 1^4 - 31^3 - 31^2 + 11 -6 = 0, thus (x - 1) is a factor(x - 1)( _ _ _ _ _ ) = (x^4 - 3x^3 - 3x^2 + 11x - 6)[Here I'll give an example of using the grid multiply two numbers and then I'll show how it can be used to find the missing polynomial in this equation but it is impossible to type the method in this box but I'll do it on the whiteboard during the interview :) ](x - 1)(x^3 - 2x^2 - 5x + 6)Once you're confident with the grid method you can try to do it without using the grid(x - 1)(x + 2)(x^2 - 4x +3)(x - 1)(x + 2)(x - 1)(x - 3)(x + 2)(x - 3)(x - 1)^2

KG
Answered by Kester G. Maths tutor

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