Question

Factor the polynomial.
-3x^4-9x^3+15x^2

Answer 1

well start by identifying the highest common factor in each term...

any thoughts..?

Answer 2

So like x4 +x3+x2

Answer 3

close, each term has a coefficient that is a multiple of 3

each term has a veriable in x so the highest common factor is 3x^2 or even
-3x^2

so to start the factorisation it can be written as

\[-3x^2(~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~)\]

there will be 2 terms inside the brackets, what will they be..?

Answer 4

oops... that should read, there will be 3 terms inside the brackets...

sorry about the typo

Answer 5

would be like x -9 +15

Answer 6

not quite... what can you simplify these fractions.

\[\frac{-3x^4}{-3x^2}\]

and

\[\frac{-9x^3}{-3x^2}\]

then

\[\frac{15x^2}{-3x^2}\]

Answer 7

So it will be 1+3-5