30.8k views
3 votes
Factor completely. x^3 - y^3

1 Answer

1 vote
(x-y)(x^2+xy+y^2)

The first parentheses contain the cubed root of both the terms so x and y respectively. second parentheses follows the formula (a^2 + ab + b^2)
x corresponds to a and y corresponds to b. The signs are what change depending on what the original equation is. Since the original is a subtraction then the signs are -/+/+. you can remember it using the acronym SOAP. (S = same, O = opposite, AP = always positive) So the first sign is x - y (same as subtraction from original), the second and third are x^2 + xy + y^2 (opposite is a plus, and the last sign is always a positive.
User TimonNetherlands
by
8.0k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories