Question

how do we simplify x^4 -2x^3+x

Answer 1

you cannot

Answer 2

you can

Answer 3

all the terms are different so you cannot combine them in any way. you can factor if you like, but that is not "simplifying'

Answer 4

the answer is x(x-1)(x^2-x-1)
but i have no idea how to simplify to that

Answer 5

that is you can rewrite as
\[x(x^3-2x^2+1)\]
and then factor further, but that is in now way "simpler"

Answer 6

oh well over here they call it simplifying or factorising same thing

Answer 7

so how do we simplify the second part?

Answer 8

really? that is totally wrong. there is nothing "simpler" about the expression
\[x^2+2x+1\]vs
\[(x+1)^2\]

Answer 9

\[x^3-2x^2+1\] you can factor if you know that if x = 1 you get 0
then you know that it must be
\[(x-1)\] times something, and you can find eth something by division

Answer 10

right ok thanks