silemus.

25Solving a cubic by factoring

Solve x3−6x2+11x−6=0\displaystyle x^3 - 6x^2 + 11x - 6 = 0.

The cubic factors as (x−1)(x−2)(x−3)=0, so the roots are x = 1, 2, 3. Finding x=1 works first lets you divide it out to a quadratic, which factors into (x−2)(x−3). Check: 8−24+22−6=0 for x=2.

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