The given function is f(x) = x⁴ - 4x³ + 21x² - 4x + 20
A zero is 2 - 4i. Because it is complex, it should have a conjugate of 2 + 4i. The product of the two complex conjugates yield (2 - 4)*(2 + 4i) = 2² - 4²i² = 4 + 16 = 20
The two complex factors are [x-(2-4i] and [x-((2+4i)]. Therefore a real factor is x² - x(2+4i+2-4i) + 20 = x² - 4x + 20