Question

factor :
a. x^3 - 196:
b. x^2 +36:
c. 15x^2-14x-8:

Answer 1

b would involve imaginary numbers

Answer 2

c would also since i come up with no rational factors

Answer 3

not c i mean a

Answer 4

can not factorable be an answer?

Answer 5

yes but since b is involve with "i" how i do factor it?

Answer 6

ok well a is not factorable

Answer 7

imaginary numbers with all you would have to know is i^2 = -1

Answer 8

so what do you suppse (x + 6I)(x - 6i) equals?

Answer 9

ehh let me write in equation format

\[(x + 6i)(x - 6i)\]

Answer 10

make sense with the imaginary numbers?

Answer 11

since FOIL would get you x^2 -6xi +6xi -36i^2 and i^2 = -1 so x^2 + 36

Answer 12

yes makes sense :) and for A why would that be no rational numbers ?

Answer 13

it isn't the fact that it isnt rational just 196 is not a perfect cube so there is not a way to factor it without more terms

Answer 14

and c is (5x + 2)(3x - 4)

Answer 15

ohh okay i got it lol

Answer 16

yea factoring can be complicated at times but an easier example of b would be if x^2 - 36 since the perfect square factoring rule comes into play where

(a^2 - b^2) = (a+b)(a-b)