Can you factor x3-3x2-x plus 3?

Answer 1

We are trying to factor 3x2 +5x+2.

First of all, we see there is no number or powers of x that can be factored out of all three terms.

So we try and factor it as the product of binomials.

There are only 2 factors of 3, those being 3 and 1. Same with 2, the factors are 2 and 1.

Also, the signs are both positive so we need only consider (ax+b)(x+c). No need to worry about the negatives since that is not possible

So try (3x+1)(x+2)=3x2 +x+6x+2. We have 7x and that does not work

Now try (3x+2)(x+1)=3x2 +2x+3x+2=3x2 +5x+2

Answer 2

It cannot be done with whole numbers, but using irrational numbers it factorises into:

3x² + 8x + 1 = (1/3)(3x + (4 + √13))(3x + (4 - √13))

Answer 3

(x + 4)(x + 3)(x + 1)

Answer 4

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