Question

factor the polynomial x^3-2x^2+x-2

Answer 1

factor by grouping
factor out x^2 from the first to terms
leaving x^2(x-2) + x-2
factor out a "1" from the second two terms
x^2(x-2) + 1(x-2)
now rewrite it as (x^2+1)(x-2) because of the distributive property