Question

I need help!
The volume of a rectangular box is (x3 - 9x2 - 4x + 36) cubic units. Determine the dimensions of the rectangular box by factoring the volume expression completely.

Answer 1

Factoring would produce 3 factors, one of which would represent the width of the box, one the length, and one the height.

I'd suggest you start by identifying possible factors of 36. For example, 6 is a factor of 36; in this case you'd want to use long division or synthetic division to determine whether 6 is a root of the box volume expression OR (equivalently) whether (x-6) is a factor of that expression.

Answer 2

I've just checked, and have found that although 6 is a factor of 36, 6 is NOT a root of the volume expression. This may save you some time.

Answer 3

Hint: 2 is a root. Find the other roots. This means that (x-2) is a factor of the given volume expression.

Answer 4

ok thanks

Answer 5

Wish that were the end of this problem and this discussion, but you'll still need to find the other factors, and thus the other roots.