How do you factor #125x^6 - y^6#?
1 Answer
#125x^6-y^6=(sqrt(5)x-y)(5x^2+sqrt(5)xy+y^2)(sqrt(5)x+y)(5x^2-sqrt(5)xy+y^2)#
Explanation:
The difference of squares identity can be written:
#a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)#
The difference of cubes identity can be written:
#a^3-b^3=(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)#
The sum of cubes identity can be written:
#a^3+b^3=(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)#
Hence we find:
#125x^6-y^6#
#=(sqrt(125)x^3)^2-(y^3)^2#
#=(sqrt(125)x^3-y^3)(sqrt(125)x^3+y^3)#
#=((sqrt(5)x)^3-y^3)((sqrt(5)x)^3+y^3)#
#=(sqrt(5)x-y)((sqrt(5)x)^2+(sqrt(5)x)y+y^2)(sqrt(5)x+y)((sqrt(5)x)^2-(sqrt(5)x)y+y^2)#
#=(sqrt(5)x-y)(5x^2+sqrt(5)xy+y^2)(sqrt(5)x+y)(5x^2-sqrt(5)xy+y^2)#
There are no simpler factors with Real coefficients.
If you allow Complex coefficients then you can factor this further as:
#=(sqrt(5)x-y)(sqrt(5)x-omega y)(sqrt(5)x-omega^2 y)(sqrt(5)x+y)(sqrt(5)x+omega y)(sqrt(5)x+omega^2 y)#
where
