factorization

Compute $$\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to 3} {{{x^4} - 81} \over {2{x^2} - 5x - 3}}$$

Consider the following determinant $$$\Delta = \left| {\matrix{ 1 & a & {bc} \cr 1 & a & {ca} \cr 1 & a & {ab} \cr } } \right|$$$ Which of the following is a factor of $$\Delta $$...