Question

How do you factor completely `P(v)=v^3+v^2-16v-16`?

Answer 1

The answer is `=color(red)((v+1))color(blue)((v-4)(v+4))`

Explanation:

We use

`a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)`

`P(v)=v^3+v^2-16v-16`

`=v^2color(red)((v+1))-16color(red)((v+1))`

`=color(red)((v+1))color(blue)((v^2-16))`

`=color(red)((v+1))color(blue)((v-4)(v+4))`