ABSTRACT
We really can’t factor polynomials in general. However, it is traditional to base the theory of differential equations on being able to factor polynomials. The idea is to take a very easy analysis problem and make it into a very hard, possibly impossible algebra problem. The advantage of doing this is that it can give us, when it works, formulas for the solutions and this is a very good thing. This short section is a review of how to factor polynomials. Sometimes you can do it. First of all, here is a fundamental theorem from algebra called the rational root theorem. For a proof, see any good algebra book.
