Examples

x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9

$x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9$

Step 1

Factor

x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9

$x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9$ using the rational roots test.

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Step 1.1

If a polynomial function has integer coefficients, then every rational zero will have the form

\frac{p}{q}

$\frac{p}{q}$ where

p

$p$ is a factor of the constant and

q

$q$ is a factor of the leading coefficient.

p = \pm 1, \pm 9, \pm 3

$p = \pm 1, \pm 9, \pm 3$

q = \pm 1

$q = \pm 1$

Step 1.2

Find every combination of

\pm \frac{p}{q}

$\pm \frac{p}{q}$ . These are the possible roots of the polynomial function.

\pm 1, \pm 9, \pm 3

$\pm 1, \pm 9, \pm 3$

Step 1.3

Substitute

3

$3$ and simplify the expression. In this case, the expression is equal to

0

$0$ so

3

$3$ is a root of the polynomial.

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Step 1.3.1

Substitute

3

$3$ into the polynomial.

3^{3} - 6 \cdot 3^{2} + 12 \cdot 3 - 9

$3^{3} - 6 \cdot 3^{2} + 12 \cdot 3 - 9$

Step 1.3.2

Raise

3

$3$ to the power of

3

$3$ .

27 - 6 \cdot 3^{2} + 12 \cdot 3 - 9

$27 - 6 \cdot 3^{2} + 12 \cdot 3 - 9$

Step 1.3.3

Raise

3

$3$ to the power of

2

$2$ .

27 - 6 \cdot 9 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9

$27 - 6 \cdot 9 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9$

Step 1.3.4

Multiply

- 6

$- 6$ by

9

$9$ .

27 - 54 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9

$27 - 54 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9$

Step 1.3.5

Subtract

54

$54$ from

27

$27$ .

- 27 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9

$- 27 + 12 \cdot 3 - 9$

Step 1.3.6

Multiply

12

$12$ by

3

$3$ .

- 27 + 36 - 9

$- 27 + 36 - 9$

Step 1.3.7

Add

- 27

$- 27$ and

36

$36$ .

9 - 9

$9 - 9$

Step 1.3.8

Subtract

9

$9$ from

9

$9$ .

0

$0$

0

$0$

Step 1.4

Since

3

$3$ is a known root, divide the polynomial by

x - 3

$x - 3$ to find the quotient polynomial. This polynomial can then be used to find the remaining roots.

\frac{x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9}{x - 3}

$\frac{x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9}{x - 3}$

Step 1.5

Divide

x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9

$x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9$ by

x - 3

$x - 3$ .

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Step 1.5.1

Set up the polynomials to be divided. If there is not a term for every exponent, insert one with a value of

0

$0$ .

x

$x$

3

$3$

x^{3}

$x^{3}$

6 x^{2}

$6 x^{2}$

12 x

$12 x$

9

$9$

Step 1.5.2

Divide the highest order term in the dividend

x^{3}

$x^{3}$ by the highest order term in divisor

x

$x$ .

					$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$
	$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$

Step 1.5.3

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			+	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$

Step 1.5.4

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in

x^{3} - 3 x^{2}

$x^{3} - 3 x^{2}$

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$

Step 1.5.5

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$

Step 1.5.6

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$

Step 1.5.7

Divide the highest order term in the dividend

- 3 x^{2}

$- 3 x^{2}$ by the highest order term in divisor

x

$x$ .

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$

Step 1.5.8

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$9 x$ $9 x$

Step 1.5.9

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in

- 3 x^{2} + 9 x

$- 3 x^{2} + 9 x$

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$

Step 1.5.10

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$

Step 1.5.11

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$

Step 1.5.12

Divide the highest order term in the dividend

3 x

$3 x$ by the highest order term in divisor

x

$x$ .

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$3$ $3$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$

Step 1.5.13

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$3$ $3$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$

Step 1.5.14

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in

3 x - 9

$3 x - 9$

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$3$ $3$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$
							-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$9$ $9$

Step 1.5.15

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$ $x^{2}$	-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$3$ $3$
$x$ $x$	-	$3$ $3$		$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	-	$6 x^{2}$ $6 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$	-	$9$ $9$
			-	$x^{3}$ $x^{3}$	+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$
					-	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	+	$12 x$ $12 x$
					+	$3 x^{2}$ $3 x^{2}$	-	$9 x$ $9 x$
							+	$3 x$ $3 x$	-	$9$ $9$
							-	$3 x$ $3 x$	+	$9$ $9$
										$0$ $0$

Step 1.5.16

Since the remainder is

0

$0$ , the final answer is the quotient.

x^{2} - 3 x + 3

$x^{2} - 3 x + 3$

x^{2} - 3 x + 3

$x^{2} - 3 x + 3$

Step 1.6

Write

x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9

$x^{3} - 6 x^{2} + 12 x - 9$ as a set of factors.

(x - 3) (x^{2} - 3 x + 3)

$(x - 3) (x^{2} - 3 x + 3)$

(x - 3) (x^{2} - 3 x + 3)

$(x - 3) (x^{2} - 3 x + 3)$

Step 2

Since the polynomial can be factored, it is not prime.

Not prime

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