Factoring

[Soujinn]

Hey everyone,

I just need some help on how to start this problem. I've never been much good with factoring and I just sort of need a jumpstart ^_^ All the help is, of course, appriciated.

121x^3 + 66x^2 - 55x

 

[stapel]

Start by taking the common factor out front. :wink:

Eliz.

 

[Soujinn]

Ok so if I take out the common term, I end up with

= 11x (11x^2 +6x -5)

then if I take it a step farther and factor inside the parenthesis

= 11x ((-x -1)(-11x+5))

would that be as simple as I could get it? I feel like I should get rid of the outter most set of parenthesis.

 

[Unco]

That's as simple as it gets ( although (-x - 1)(-11x + 5) = (x + 1)(11x - 5), but plus signs are no simpler than minus signs ).

You can drop the outside parentheses because it's just a product.