How do you factor 4x4 plus 34x plus 42?

Answer 1

You cannot factor 4x4 + 34x + 42

The expression has a minimum value of approx 9.21616 when x = -1.286 (= 0.5*cuberoot(17). Since the expression is always positive, it does not cross the x-axis and so does not have any real roots. Consequently, it does not have any real factors.

Answer 2

You can take 2 out of all of those terms, leaving 2(2x^4 + 17x + 21)

If that was 4x^2 + 34x + 42, it would factor to 2(2x + 3)(x + 7)