Algebra Examples

Factor f(x)=x^6+4x^4-41x^2+36
Step 1
Factor using the rational roots test.
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Step 1.1
If a polynomial function has integer coefficients, then every rational zero will have the form where is a factor of the constant and is a factor of the leading coefficient.
Step 1.2
Find every combination of . These are the possible roots of the polynomial function.
Step 1.3
Substitute and simplify the expression. In this case, the expression is equal to so is a root of the polynomial.
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Step 1.3.1
Substitute into the polynomial.
Step 1.3.2
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.3.3
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.3.4
Multiply by .
Step 1.3.5
Add and .
Step 1.3.6
Raise to the power of .
Step 1.3.7
Multiply by .
Step 1.3.8
Subtract from .
Step 1.3.9
Add and .
Step 1.4
Since is a known root, divide the polynomial by to find the quotient polynomial. This polynomial can then be used to find the remaining roots.
Step 1.5
Divide by .
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Step 1.5.1
Set up the polynomials to be divided. If there is not a term for every exponent, insert one with a value of .
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Step 1.5.2
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.3
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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Step 1.5.4
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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--
Step 1.5.5
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.6
Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.7
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.8
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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--
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Step 1.5.9
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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--
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Step 1.5.10
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.11
Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.12
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.13
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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Step 1.5.14
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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--
Step 1.5.15
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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--
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--
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Step 1.5.16
Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.
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Step 1.5.17
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.18
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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Step 1.5.19
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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Step 1.5.20
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.21
Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.22
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.23
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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Step 1.5.24
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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--
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Step 1.5.25
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.26
Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.
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--
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Step 1.5.27
Divide the highest order term in the dividend by the highest order term in divisor .
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Step 1.5.28
Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.
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Step 1.5.29
The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in
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Step 1.5.30
After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.
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Step 1.5.31
Since the remander is , the final answer is the quotient.
Step 1.6
Write as a set of factors.
Step 2
Regroup terms.
Step 3
Factor out of .
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Step 3.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.2
Factor out of .
Step 3.3
Factor out of .
Step 3.4
Factor out of .
Step 3.5
Factor out of .
Step 4
Rewrite as .
Step 5
Let . Substitute for all occurrences of .
Step 6
Factor using the AC method.
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Step 6.1
Consider the form . Find a pair of integers whose product is and whose sum is . In this case, whose product is and whose sum is .
Step 6.2
Write the factored form using these integers.
Step 7
Replace all occurrences of with .
Step 8
Rewrite as .
Step 9
Factor.
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Step 9.1
Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, where and .
Step 9.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.
Step 10
Rewrite as .
Step 11
Let . Substitute for all occurrences of .
Step 12
Factor by grouping.
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Step 12.1
For a polynomial of the form , rewrite the middle term as a sum of two terms whose product is and whose sum is .
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Step 12.1.1
Factor out of .
Step 12.1.2
Rewrite as plus
Step 12.1.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 12.2
Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.
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Step 12.2.1
Group the first two terms and the last two terms.
Step 12.2.2
Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.
Step 12.3
Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor, .
Step 13
Replace all occurrences of with .
Step 14
Rewrite as .
Step 15
Reorder and .
Step 16
Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, where and .
Step 17
Factor out of .
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Step 17.1
Factor out of .
Step 17.2
Factor out of .
Step 17.3
Factor out of .
Step 18
Apply the distributive property.
Step 19
Multiply by .
Step 20
Move to the left of .
Step 21
Expand using the FOIL Method.
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Step 21.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 21.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 21.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 22
Simplify and combine like terms.
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Step 22.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 22.1.1
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 22.1.1.1
Multiply by .
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Step 22.1.1.1.1
Raise to the power of .
Step 22.1.1.1.2
Use the power rule to combine exponents.
Step 22.1.1.2
Add and .
Step 22.1.2
Move to the left of .
Step 22.1.3
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 22.1.3.1
Move .
Step 22.1.3.2
Multiply by .
Step 22.1.4
Multiply by .
Step 22.2
Add and .
Step 22.3
Add and .
Step 23
Expand using the FOIL Method.
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Step 23.1
Apply the distributive property.
Step 23.2
Apply the distributive property.
Step 23.3
Apply the distributive property.
Step 24
Simplify and combine like terms.
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Step 24.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 24.1.1
Multiply by .
Step 24.1.2
Multiply by .
Step 24.1.3
Move to the left of .
Step 24.1.4
Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.
Step 24.1.5
Multiply by by adding the exponents.
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Step 24.1.5.1
Move .
Step 24.1.5.2
Multiply by .
Step 24.2
Add and .
Step 24.3
Add and .
Step 25
Reorder terms.
Step 26
Factor.
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Step 26.1
Factor.
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Step 26.1.1
Rewrite in a factored form.
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Step 26.1.1.1
Factor out the greatest common factor from each group.
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Step 26.1.1.1.1
Group the first two terms and the last two terms.
Step 26.1.1.1.2
Factor out the greatest common factor (GCF) from each group.
Step 26.1.1.2
Factor the polynomial by factoring out the greatest common factor, .
Step 26.1.1.3
Rewrite as .
Step 26.1.1.4
Factor.
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Step 26.1.1.4.1
Since both terms are perfect squares, factor using the difference of squares formula, where and .
Step 26.1.1.4.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.
Step 26.1.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.
Step 26.2
Remove unnecessary parentheses.