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Factor 2x^3-5x^2-4x+3

1 Answer

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Answer:

(2 x - 1) (x + 1) (x - 3)

Explanation:

Factor the following:

2 x^3 - 5 x^2 - 4 x + 3

Hint: | Find all linear factors of 2 x^3 - 5 x^2 - 4 x + 3 via the rational root theorem. Do this by finding rational roots. The candidates are x = ± p/q for all p that are divisors of the constant term 3 and for all q that are divisors of the leading coefficient 2.

The possible rational roots of 2 x^3 - 5 x^2 - 4 x + 3 are x = ± 1/2, x = ± 3/2, x = ± 1, x = ± 3. Of these, x = 1/2, x = -1 and x = 3 are roots. This gives 2 x - 1, x + 1 and x - 3 as all factors:

Answer: (2 x - 1) (x + 1) (x - 3)

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