a) x3 - 7x + 6
= x3 - 7x + 7 - 1
= ( x - 1)( x2 + x + 1) - 7( x - 1)
= ( x - 1)( x2 + x - 6)
= ( x - 1)( x2 - 2x + 3x - 6)
= ( x - 1)[ x( x - 2) + 3( x - 2)]
= ( x - 1)( x - 2)( x + 3)
b) ab( a + b) - bc( b+ c) + ac( a - c)
= a2b + ab2 - b2c - bc2 + ac( a - c)
= b(a2 - c2) + b2( a - c) + ac( a - c)
= b( a + c)( a - c) + b2( a - c) + ac( a - c)
= ( a - c)( ab + bc + b2 + ac)
= ( a - c) [ b( a + b) + c( a + b) ]
= ( a - c)( a + b)( b + c)