Factors of a Product
Simplify
First, factor each polynomial.
Then, "cancel" any common factors in numerator and
denominator. (Canceling is the
process of dividing numerator and denominator by a common factor.)
Factor completely the following:
Notice that
But
But this is a difference of squares, so
Simplifying, we get
Notice that
So
But this is a difference of squares, so
Simplifying, we get
Since this is a difference of squares,
Since the first factor is a difference of cubes and the
second a sum of cubes, we get
But the first factor is a difference of squares, so