How do you factor x626x327?

1 Answer
Feb 5, 2015

First let's notice that x6=(x3)2

Let r=x3

Using substitution we have

r226r27

We now look for the factors of 27 that will combine (add) to make 26

We find that 27 and 1 multiply to be 27 and add to be 26. This gives us

(r27)(r+1)

Now substitute x3 back in for r

(x327)(x3+1)

We should recognize this as a difference of cubes and a sum of cubes.

(x3)(x2+3x+9)(x+1)(x2x+1)