Factor completely

x^3 +2x^2 -15x

Question

Factor completely

x^3 +2x^2 -15x

anonymous · Answer

What do you not understand about this problem? I will talk you through it.

highschoolmom2010 · Answer

I just forgot how to factor

zale101 · Answer

first, factor out the GCF (greatest common factor)

anonymous · Answer

I was just typing that, but what Zale said ^

zale101 · Answer

x^3 +2x^2 -15x
the greatest common factor is x so factor that out

highschoolmom2010 · Answer

X(x^2)+(2x)-15

anonymous · Answer

5 and 3 will play a part here :)

highschoolmom2010 · Answer

That was as far as I have gotten....

anonymous · Answer

Well i kinda cheat.  If you have a calculator or solve it graphically usually you can get the roots

0,3 and -5    so now you are able to get it in the form of 

(x-a), (x-b), (x-c)        where  a b and c   are 0, 3 and -5

anonymous · Answer

even on al old ti84  you can find the roots aka zeros, which are 0, 3 and -5. You can do so using the graphing feature and knowing that a 3rd degree polynomial may have max of 3 roots.

highschoolmom2010 · Answer

X(x-3)(x+5) would that be it

anonymous · Answer

Yes :D

highschoolmom2010 · Answer

Hooray

anonymous · Answer

YAY thanks for medal ^_^