How do you factor 27k^3+64d^3?

2 Answers
Aug 29, 2016

27k^3+64d^3=(3k+4d)(9k^2-12kd+16d^2)

Explanation:

The sum of cubes identity can be written:

a^3+b^3=(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)

We can use this with a=3k and b=4d to find:

27k^3+64d^3

=(3k)^3+(4d)^3

=(3k+4d)((3k)^2-(3k)(4d)+(4d)^2)

=(3k+4d)(9k^2-12kd+16d^2)

That is as far as we can go with Real coefficients. If we allow Complex coefficients then this can be factored further as:

=(3k+4d)(3k+4omegad)(3k+4omega^2d)

where omega = -1/2+sqrt(3)/2i is the primitive Complex cube root of 1

Aug 29, 2016

=(3k +4d)(9k^2 -12dk +16d^2)

Explanation:

This difficulty is recognising that the values are all cubes.

This expression is the sum of cubes.

x^3 + y^3 = (x+y)(x^2 -xy +y^2)

27k^3 +64d^3 = (3k +4d)(9k^2 -12dk +16d^2)