Question

if you have the equation k(k+1) +2(k+1) i get that if you factor out (k+1) you get (k+1)(k+2), but what if it was k(k+1)^2 + 2(k+1)^3?....how would you simplify that?.....please show step by step, thank you.

Answer 1

To make this simpler for you to solve, try writing it all out completely. So from \[k(k+1)^2 + 2(k+1)^3\], write
\[k(k+1)(k+1) + 2(k+1)(k+1)(k+1)\]
and it should be more clear for you to see that you can now factor out two (k+1)'s, to make \[(k+1)(k+1)(k + 2(k+1))\]

Answer 2

@Dave: Or may be the best way to understand is just to factor the gcd of the terms :)