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Factoring The Sum & Difference of Two Cubes

This document discusses factoring the sum and difference of two cubes. It explains that the sum or difference of two cubes can be factored into a binomial times a trinomial, with the signs following specific patterns. The signs in the factored form will always be the same for the first two terms and always opposite for the third term. It provides an example of factoring the expression 27x - 125 and walks through the steps to arrive at the factored form.

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Philip
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208 views12 pages

Factoring The Sum & Difference of Two Cubes

This document discusses factoring the sum and difference of two cubes. It explains that the sum or difference of two cubes can be factored into a binomial times a trinomial, with the signs following specific patterns. The signs in the factored form will always be the same for the first two terms and always opposite for the third term. It provides an example of factoring the expression 27x - 125 and walks through the steps to arrive at the factored form.

Uploaded by

Philip
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Factoring the Sum & Difference

of Two Cubes

p.368-371
This is a piece of cake, if you have perfect cubes.

What are perfect cubes?


This is a piece of cake, if you have perfect cubes.

What are perfect cubes?

Something times something times something.

Where the something is a factor 3 times.

8 is 2 × 2 × 2, so 8 is a perfect cube.
x6 is x2 × x2 × x2 so x6 is a perfect cube.
It is easy to see if a variable is a perfect cube, how?
This is a piece of cake, if you have perfect cubes.

What are perfect cubes?

Something times something times something.

Where the something is a factor 3 times.

8 is 2 × 2 × 2, so 8 is a perfect cube.
x6 is x2 × x2 × x2 so x6 is a perfect cube.
It is easy to see if a variable is a perfect cube, how?
See if the exponent is divisible by 3. It’s harder for
integers.
The sum or difference of two cubes will factor into a
binomial × trinomial.

a + b = ( a + b ) a − ab + b
3 3
( 2 2
)
same sign

always +
always opposite
3 3
(
a − b = ( a − b ) a + ab + b 2 2
)
same sign

always +
always opposite
Now we know how to get the signs, let’s work on
what goes inside.
Square this term to get this term.

3 3
(
a + b = ( a + b ) a − ab + b 2 2
)
Cube root of 1st term

Cube root of 2nd term

Product of cube root of 1st term


and cube root of 2nd term.
Try one. Make a binomial and a trinomial
with the correct signs.
27 x −125 =
3
Try one.

27 x −125 =
3
( − )( + + )

Cube root of 1st term Cube root of 2nd term


Try one.

27 x −125 = ( 3x − 5)(
3
+ + )

Square this term to get this term.


Try one.

27 x −125 = ( 3x − 5) ( 9 x 2 +
3
+ )

Multiply 3x an 5 to get this term.


Try one.

27 x −125 = ( 3x − 5) ( 9 x + 15 x +
3 2
)

Square this term to get this term.


Try one.

(
27 x −125 = ( 3 x − 5) 9 x + 15 x + 25
3 2
)
You did it!

Don’t forget the first rule of factoring is to look


for the greatest common factor.

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