Question

How do you factor `2x^3 - 4x^2 + x - 2`?

Answer 1

`(x - 2)(2x^2 + 1 )`

Explanation:

Factorise by 'grouping'

ie [ `2x^3 - 4x^2 ] + [ x - 2 ]`

`= 2x^2(x - 2 ) +1 (x - 2 )`

There is now a common factor of ( x - 2 )

= (x - 2 )(2`x^2 + 1 )`