Question

How do you factor `x^6 - 8y^3`?

Answer 1

`x^6-8y^3=(x^2-2y)(x^4+2x^2y+4y^2)`

Explanation:

You will find that `a^3-b^3 = (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)`

Therefore by setting `a=x^2` and `b=2y`:

`x^6-8y^3=(x^2-2y)(x^4+2x^2y+4y^2)`

Don't think it does but it possibly could be factorised more.