Question

According to the rational root theorem, which is a factor of the polynomial f(x)=3x^3-5x^2-12x+20?

Answer 1

Answer:

(x-2), (x+2), (3x-5)

Step-by-step explanation:

Factors of 3: ±1, ±3

Factors of 20: ±1, ±2, ±4, ±5, ±10, ±20

Possible factors of the polynomial: ±1, ±2, ±3, ±4, ±5, ±10, ±20, .... (there's a lot more but you probably do not need to list them all)

Pick a number to divide the polynomial by (I picked 2)

(3x³-5x²-12x+20)÷(x-2) = 3x²+x-10

So (x-2) is a factor of f(x) = 3x³-5x²-12x+20

Factor 3x²+x-10 = (3x-5)(x-2) these are the other factors of f(x) = 3x³-5x²-12x+20