TITLE: Factoring a hard polynomial
QUESTION [19 upvotes]: This might seem like a basic question but I want a systematic way to factor the following polynomial:
$$n^4+6n^3+11n^2+6n+1.$$
I know the answer but I am having a difficult time factoring this polynomial properly. (It should be $(n^2 + 3n + 1)^2$). Thank you and have a great day!

REPLY [3 votes]: we can reorganize the terms of $n^4+6n^3+11n^2+6n+1$ like $$(n^4+2n^2+1)+(6n^3+6n)+9n^2 $$ $$(n^2+1)^2+6n(n^2+1)+(3n)^2=(n^2+3n+1)^2$$ then we are done