9514 1404 393
Answer:
(x -1/4)(x -1)(x +1)
Explanation:
Pairs of coefficients have the same ratio, so it is likely that you can factor this by grouping pairs of terms.
x³ -x -1/4x² +1/4 = (x³ -x) -(1/4x² -1/4) . . . . . . note the signs
= x(x² -1) -1/4(x² -1)
= (x -1/4)(x² -1)
The difference of squares (x² -1) is a special form that has factors (x -1)(x +1)
Your factoring is ...
(x -1/4)(x -1)(x +1)
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Additional comment
The difference of squares factors like this:
a² -b² = (a -b)(a +b)