Why is this polynomial irreducible in $\mathbb{Z}[x]$?

Question

I want to know why if $a$ is odd, then the polynomial $$ 3x^5 -4x^4+2x^3+x^2+18x+a $$ is irreducible in $\mathbb{Z}[x]$.

I know that if it factors into a polynomial of degree 4 and one of degree 1, it means that it has an integer root, but that is a contradiction since any integer lets an odd value, so it can't be even (0). How can I show that it can't be factorised into a polynomial of degree 2 and another of degree 3?

Answer 1

Hint 1

Consider your polynomial modulo $2$. You get a polynomial over the field $\{ 0, 1\}$ with two elements.

Hint 2

You will only have to check that $0, 1$ are not roots, and that it is not divisible by $x^2 + x + 1$.