Solve f(x)=x^4+x^3-6x^2

$$f ( x ) = x ^ { 4 } + x ^ { 3 } - 6 x ^ { 2 }$$

Factor

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

Solution Steps

Factor out x^{2}.

$$x^{2}\left(x^{2}+x-6\right)$$

Consider x^{2}+x-6. Factor the expression by grouping. First, the expression needs to be rewritten as x^{2}+ax+bx-6. To find a and b, set up a system to be solved.

$$a+b=1 ab=1\left(-6\right)=-6$$

Since ab is negative, a and b have the opposite signs. Since a+b is positive, the positive number has greater absolute value than the negative. List all such integer pairs that give product -6.

$$-1,6 -2,3$$

Calculate the sum for each pair.

$$-1+6=5 -2+3=1$$

The solution is the pair that gives sum 1.

$$a=-2 b=3$$

Rewrite x^{2}+x-6 as \left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(3x-6\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-2x\right)+\left(3x-6\right)$$

Factor out x in the first and 3 in the second group.

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

Factor out common term x-2 by using distributive property.

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

Rewrite the complete factored expression.

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

Evaluate

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