How do you factor the difference of two squares? How do you factor the perfect square trinomial? How do you factor the sum and difference of two cubes? Which of these three makes the most sense to you? Explain why.

Question

hero · Answer

Hint: 
Difference of Squares:
$a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$

hero · Answer

Perfect square trinomial:

$(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2$

hero · Answer

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

mathmate · Answer

The last term is b-squared!  :)

hero · Answer

Yup, my bad.

mathmate · Answer

np