Solve x^3-7x-6

$${ x }^{ 3 } -7x-6$$

Factor

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x+1\right)\left(x+2\right)$$

Solution Steps

By Rational Root Theorem, all rational roots of a polynomial are in the form \frac{p}{q}, where p divides the constant term -6 and q divides the leading coefficient 1. One such root is 3. Factor the polynomial by dividing it by x-3.

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x^{2}+3x+2\right)$$

Consider x^{2}+3x+2. Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx+2. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=3 ab=1\times 2=2$$

Since ab is positive, a and b have the same sign. Since a+b is positive, a and b are both positive. The only such pair is the system solution.

$$a=1 b=2$$

Rewrite x^{2}+3x+2 as \left(x^{2}+x\right)+\left(2x+2\right).

$$\left(x^{2}+x\right)+\left(2x+2\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 2 in the second group.

$$x\left(x+1\right)+2\left(x+1\right)$$

Factor out common term x+1 by using distributive property.

$$\left(x+1\right)\left(x+2\right)$$

Rewrite the complete factored expression.

$$\left(x-3\right)\left(x+1\right)\left(x+2\right)$$

Evaluate

$$x^{3}-7x-6$$