Math Problem Statement

solve

Factor by grouping: u^3 - 7u^2 + 5u - 35

Solution

Let's factor the given polynomial expression u37u2+5u35u^3 - 7u^2 + 5u - 35 by grouping.

Step 1: Group terms in pairs

We start by grouping the terms in pairs:

(u37u2)+(5u35)(u^3 - 7u^2) + (5u - 35)

Step 2: Factor out the common factor from each group

  • From u37u2u^3 - 7u^2, we can factor out u2u^2, leaving u7u - 7.
  • From 5u355u - 35, we can factor out 55, leaving u7u - 7.

Thus, we have:

u2(u7)+5(u7)u^2(u - 7) + 5(u - 7)

Step 3: Factor out the common binomial factor

Both terms have (u7)(u - 7) as a common factor, so we can factor that out:

(u7)(u2+5)(u - 7)(u^2 + 5)

Final Factored Form:

The factored form of u37u2+5u35u^3 - 7u^2 + 5u - 35 is:

(u7)(u2+5)(u - 7)(u^2 + 5)

Would you like a more detailed breakdown or have any further questions about factoring? Here's a list of related questions to help you explore this topic:

  1. How can you check if your factoring is correct by expanding the factors back out?
  2. What is the significance of the difference of squares when factoring polynomials?
  3. Can you factor polynomials of higher degrees using the same grouping method?
  4. How do you handle cases where the terms do not initially have a common factor in grouping?
  5. What other methods, like synthetic division, can be used for factoring cubic polynomials?

Tip: Always look for common factors in groups before attempting to factor completely. This can simplify the problem significantly.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Algebra
Polynomial Factorization
Grouping Method

Formulas

Factoring by grouping: ax^2 + bx + c = (common factor 1) + (common factor 2)

Theorems

Distributive Property

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 9-12