Question:
Using factor theorem, factorize of the polynomials:
$x^{3}-2 x^{2}-x+2$
Solution:
Let, $f(x)=x^{3}-2 x^{2}-x+2$
The constant term is 2
The factors of 2 are ±1, ± 1/2
Let, x – 1= 0
=> x = 1
$f(1)=(1)^{3}-2(1)^{2}-(1)+2$
= 1 – 2 – 1 + 2
= 0
So, (x – 1) is the factor of f(x)
Divide f(x) with (x – 1) to get other factors
By, long division
$x^{2}-x-2$
$x-1 x^{3}-2 x^{2}-y+2$
$x^{3}-x^{2}$
(-) (+)
$-x^{2}-x$
$-x^{2}+x$
(+) (-)
– 2x + 2
– 2x + 2
(+) (-)
0
$=x^{3}-2 x^{2}-y+2=(x-1)\left(x^{2}-x-2\right)$
Now,
$x^{2}-x-2=x^{2}-2 x+x-2$
= x(x – 2) + 1(x – 2)
=(x – 2)(x + 1) are the factors
Hence, $x^{3}-2 x^{2}-y+2=(x-1)(x+1)(x-2)$