Answer:
x = 2 or x = 1 or x = -1
Step-by-step explanation:
Solve for x over the real numbers:
x^5 - 4 x^4 + 4 x^3 + 2 x^2 - 5 x + 2 = 0
The left hand side factors into a product with three terms:
(x - 2) (x - 1)^3 (x + 1) = 0
Split into three equations:
x - 2 = 0 or (x - 1)^3 = 0 or x + 1 = 0
Add 2 to both sides:
x = 2 or (x - 1)^3 = 0 or x + 1 = 0
Take cube roots of both sides:
x = 2 or x - 1 = 0 or x + 1 = 0
Add 1 to both sides:
x = 2 or x = 1 or x + 1 = 0
Subtract 1 from both sides:
Answer: x = 2 or x = 1 or x = -1
