Expert: Richard J. Raridon - 10/5/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
When factoring a trinomial, why is it necessary to write the trinomial is 4 terms?
(Iam an algebra idiot, could you put this is terms someone like me can understand? Thank you)
Answer -
Because the terms are different, like adding apples and oranges.  So you could have something like x^3+3x^2+5x+6.  
Thank you could you possibly do out this trinomial so that I woould have a thorough explanation? Thank you

Answer
I just made that one up and it can't be factored.  Look at
x^3 -2x^2 -5x +6 = 0
re-write it as f(x) = x^3 -2x^2 -5x +6
now, if you put in a value for x and f(x) = 0, then that value of x is a solution.  
f(0) = 6 and f(1) = 0 so (x-1) is one of the factors.  
Divide that into the original equation and you get
x^2 -x -6 which is pretty easy to factor into (x-3) and (x+2)