Question

I am having trouble factoring this

(a^3x-b^x)-(a^3y+b^3y)

Can anyone help ?

Answer 1

difference of cubes - sum of cubes, factor each separately

Answer 2

this IS NOT difference of cubes

Answer 3

I started by Factoring out x and y

X(a^3-b^3)-y(a^3+b^3)

Answer 4

@precal

Answer 5

\[a^3 + b^3 = (a + b)(a^2 – ab + b^2) \]

Answer 6

\[a^3 – b^3 = (a – b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)\]

Answer 7

thats not what it says

Answer 8

typo?

Answer 9

So

X(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)-y(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)

?

Answer 10

if it is this
\[(a^3 x-b^3 x)-(a^3 y+b^3 y)\] you cannot factor it

Answer 11

you could rewrite it as
\[x(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)-y(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)\] but that is not factoring

Answer 12

factor means to write as a product, and this is still a difference (minus sign in the middle)

Answer 13

you need to write problem as given, the parenthesis changes the problem altogether