How do you factor #x^4-2x^3+5x-10#?

1 Answer
Feb 9, 2015

You can use a technique called factoring by grouping to factor this expression:

  1. #x^4-2x^3+5x-10# Given
  2. #(x^4-2x^3) + (5x-10)# **Insert parenthesis **

This allows you to pair the terms with like factors and factor them.

  1. #x^3(x-2) +5(x-2)# Greatest Common Factor
  2. #(x-2)(x^3+5)# **Undo Distributive Property **