Factor f(x)=x^3-3x^2+x+1

$f (x) = x^{3} - 3 x^{2} + x + 1$

Step 1

If a polynomial function has integer coefficients, then every rational zero will have the form $\frac{p}{q}$ where $p$ is a factor of the constant and $q$ is a factor of the leading coefficient.

$p = \pm 1 q = \pm 1$

Step 2

Find every combination of $\pm \frac{p}{q}$ . These are the possible roots of the polynomial function.

$\pm 1$

Step 3

Substitute $1$ and simplify the expression. In this case, the expression is equal to $0$ so $1$ is a root of the polynomial.

Substitute $1$ into the polynomial.

$1^{3} - 3 \cdot 1^{2} + 1 + 1$

Raise $1$ to the power of $3$ .

$1 - 3 \cdot 1^{2} + 1 + 1$

Raise $1$ to the power of $2$ .

$1 - 3 \cdot 1 + 1 + 1$

Multiply $- 3$ by $1$ .

$1 - 3 + 1 + 1$

Subtract $3$ from $1$ .

$- 2 + 1 + 1$

Add $- 2$ and $1$ .

$- 1 + 1$

Add $- 1$ and $1$ .

$0$

Step 4

Since $1$ is a known root, divide the polynomial by $x - 1$ to find the quotient polynomial. This polynomial can then be used to find the remaining roots.

$\frac{x^{3} - 3 x^{2} + x + 1}{x - 1}$

Step 5

Divide $x^{3} - 3 x^{2} + x + 1$ by $x - 1$ .

Set up the polynomials to be divided. If there is not a term for every exponent, insert one with a value of $0$ .

$x$

$1$

$x^{3}$

$3 x^{2}$

$x$

$1$

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $x^{3}$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

					$x^{2}$
	$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			+	$x^{3}$	-	$x^{2}$

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $x^{3} - x^{2}$

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $- 2 x^{2}$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$2 x$

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $- 2 x^{2} + 2 x$

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$

Pull the next terms from the original dividend down into the current dividend.

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$	+	$1$

Divide the highest order term in the dividend $- x$ by the highest order term in divisor $x$ .

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$	-	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$	+	$1$

Multiply the new quotient term by the divisor.

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$	-	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$	+	$1$
							-	$x$	+	$1$

The expression needs to be subtracted from the dividend, so change all the signs in $- x + 1$

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$	-	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$	+	$1$
							+	$x$	-	$1$

After changing the signs, add the last dividend from the multiplied polynomial to find the new dividend.

				$x^{2}$	-	$2 x$	-	$1$
$x$	-	$1$		$x^{3}$	-	$3 x^{2}$	+	$x$	+	$1$
			-	$x^{3}$	+	$x^{2}$
					-	$2 x^{2}$	+	$x$
					+	$2 x^{2}$	-	$2 x$
							-	$x$	+	$1$
							+	$x$	-	$1$
										$0$

Since the remander is $0$ , the final answer is the quotient.

$x^{2} - 2 x - 1$

Step 6

Write $x^{3} - 3 x^{2} + x + 1$ as a set of factors.

$f (x) = (x - 1) (x^{2} - 2 x - 1)$

Factor f(x)=x^3-3x^2+x+1

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