Question

The volume of a rectangular box is found by multiplying its length, width, and height: V = lwh. A certain box has a volume of b^3 + 3b^2 - 4b - 12. Factor the four-term polynomial to find the dimensions of the box.

Hint: Use factoring by grouping to factor the four term polynomial first.

Answer 1

"Factoring by grouping" just means that you can say
\[b^3 + 3b^2 - 4b - 12 = b^2(b + 3) - 4(b + 3)\]

Answer 2

@ehuman \((b^3 + 3b^2)(-4b - 12) \neq b^3 + 3b^2 - 4b - 12\)

Answer 3

@ehuman can you do that?