For the polynomial below, −3 is a zero. h(x)=x^3 + 5x^2 + 2x-12 Express h(x) as a product of linear factors.

Question

please help me with this

Answer 1

This will be easy for you to do.

Divide out the factor x+3 using synthetic division (-3 goes into the slot).

The problem statement assures us that the remainder will be zero; the rest of the bottom line of the synthetic division process gives you the coefficients (and ending constant) of the so-called depressed polynomial.

 

You can factor that quadratic by the usual methods of factoring. (It's not likely that you'd need to use the quadratic formula to find the remaining two roots of h(x) = 0.)