Factor the trinomial, if it's a perfect square. Or state that it's prime if it's prime.

$$x ^{2}-13xy+169y ^{2}$$

Question

Factor the trinomial, if it's a perfect square.  Or state that it's prime if it's prime.

$$x ^{2}-13xy+169y ^{2}$$

anonymous · Answer

Have you heard of the quadratic formula?

anonymous · Answer

no

anonymous · Answer

you cannot factor this, nor, i think, can you solve it using the quadratic formula 
if it was $$x^2-26xy+169y^2$$ then it would be a perfect square, because $136=13^2$ and $2\times 13=26$

anonymous · Answer

You can certainly solve this in the complex plain

anonymous · Answer

I have an online course and I was thinking this one was not solveable but wasn't sure

anonymous · Answer

but since you have $-13xy$ it is not a perfect square
i can't land my complex plain

anonymous · Answer

as nancy reagan used to say "just say no"

anonymous · Answer

This is the first one I actually had right before putting on here to double check. :)  Thank you!!!

anonymous · Answer

She is doing how it is described in the textbook. She doesn't know why. Its all basic trinomials. Its like basic algebra.

anonymous · Answer

I don't know how it's done in the textbook because I can't understand it.  But yes, it's from an online course so I only have reading explanation and that doesn't quite work.  Thank you!

anonymous · Answer

What about these factors?
$$(2x - 13y)(\frac{1}{2}x+13y)$$

anonymous · Answer

Don't work either.