Question

What is the completely factored form of x^4y-4x^2y-5y

Answer 1

`y(x^2+1)(x^2-5)`

Explanation:

Factor the expression by first finding a GCF. Each term has the y variable and this can be pulled out as the GCF.

`x^4y-4x^2y-5y\\y(x^4-4x^2-5)`

To further factor the expression break the polynomial into two binomials.

To factor into two binomials, find factors that multiply to -5 and add to -4.

-5 and 1 are factors and these make the binomials
`(x^2+1)(x^2-5)`.

The final factorization is
`y(x^2+1)(x^2-5)`