Thanks for any help

By doing the long division:

                    x^2    - 13x -5       R   77

(x-1) |  x^3 -14x^2  +18x +72

           x^3 -x^2

                 -13x^2  + 8x

                 -13x^2 +13x

                             -5x   + 72

                             -5x   +  5

                                        77

Thx, EP.....we  can also  apply the Remainder Theorem

If a polynomial P(x)  is  divded  by  x - a ,  the  remainder  = P(a) 

So....letting  a   =  1 , we  have

1^3  - 14(1)^2   + 18(1)  +  72  = 

1  -  14   +  90

91  - 14   =

77      just as EP  found  !!!

We can see the logic of this....if  x  =1   were  a root....then P(1)   =   0