Question

Use your graphing calculator to determine if f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) is the correct factorization of f(x) = x³ - 7x² - 4x - 12. Explain.

a) Yes
b) No

Answer 1

To determine if f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) is the correct factorization of f(x) = x³ - 7x² - 4x - 12, you can use a graphing calculator.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine if f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) is the correct factorization of f(x) = x³ - 7x² - 4x - 12, we can use a graphing calculator.

First, graph the original function f(x) = x³ - 7x² - 4x - 12 and the factored function f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) on the same graph.

If the two graphs coincide, then f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) is the correct factorization. If the graphs do not coincide, then f(x) = (x - 1)(x - 6)(x³) is not the correct factorization.