Question

How does one factor r^3 - 5r^2 + 3r +1 ?

Answer 1

(r-1)(r^2-4r-1)
I used synthetic division

Answer 2

you could set it equal to zero or r(r^2-5r+1/r)

Answer 3

I didn't mean the zero part

Answer 4

My calculator agrees with (r-1)(r^2-4r-1), but I was uncertain of the method. Many thanks! Just have to finish solving the differential equation...