Question

How do you factor: #y= x^3+1/8 #?

Answer 1

Sum of cubes.
`(x+1/2)(x^2-x/2 +1/4)`

Explanation:

It helps to know the common squares and cubes!
This expression is the sum of two cubes.
It factors as

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

Following the same pattern:

`x^3 +1/8= (x+1/2)(x^2-x/2 +1/4)`