if my eqsn is x^4+x^3+x^2 . i can take a common factor x^2 ,then the eqsn will be x^2(x^2+x+1) ...also i can take a common factor of x ...then the eqsn will be x(x^3+x^2+x) ...how can i direct maple about my common factor ...u think this is useless but i have just made my problem simple to ask a qsn so that everyone can understand what i really want to tell