Question

Factor completely.


x3 + 2x2 + x + 2

Answer 1

First collect like terms
x^3+4+x+2
x^3+x+6

Now The factor theorum for polynomials is P(-b/a)=0 when (ax+b) is a factor
A general good way to start is by plugging in factors of 6 (1,-1,2,-2....) until you get one to work with.
Does this much make sense ?

Answer 2

@Taplin44 your approach is correct but I am afraid that 2x2 stands for 2 times x-square

Answer 3

ahhh that would make so much more sense. i wondered why that would be there, So hard to tell these things apart.
nevertheless using the factor theorum and trial and error will get you started, when you find a factor i would use either long or synthetic division to find a quadratic and then factorise that..