Question

x^4-256
factor by either the difference of two squares or the perfect-square-trinomial formula

Answer 1

Candy: First: Is x^4 a perfect square?
Is 256 a perfect square?

How would you factor:\[a ^{2}-b ^{2}\]

Answer 2

??

Answer 3

yes

Answer 4

How would you factor:
a^2−b^2?

Answer 5

i do not know

Answer 6

What are your primary sources of info about algebra? Have you a textbook, or are notes posted online, or what? Have you tried looking up "difference of two squares" on the 'Net? In any case, Candy, I'd urge you to look up this term, "difference of two squares."

Answer 7

Doing so will almost surely give you the formula you need to factor a^2 - b^2.

Answer 8

r u going to help me or not

Answer 9

You've been provided the biggest help one could expect. That is how to look up a procedure you will need to learn to solve this kind of a problem.

Answer 10

ok

Answer 11

i'm still learning

Answer 12

Sorry, Candy. I'd like to help, but I'm not planning to help you if you're unwilling to help yourself.

Still, I searched the 'Net for "difference of squares" and found the following:

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/specfact.htm

If you're still interested in solving this problem, at least skim the material in this site and think about how it might apply to your math problem.

Answer 13

That is a good link.

Answer 14

Thank you, @radar! Hope Candy also finds it to be good, and that it helps her.

Answer 15

it helped

Answer 16

I'm glad. So, Candy, are you going to write out the factors of a^2 - b^2? I hope so. if you can do that then you have a good chance of being able to solve your original problem.

Answer 17

no

Answer 18

Don't want to, or can't do that yet, or what? I'd encourage you to keep going until you find the solution.

Answer 19

Please look at the following: it practically gives away the factors to a^2 - b^2.

Answer 20

Candy: Please factor: 4^2- a^2, following the very same process.

Answer 21

i'm blind

Answer 22

How may i respond to that? What do you mean? Want to continue with this problem you've posted, or not?

Answer 23

yes

Answer 24

Please write out the factors of a^2-b^2.

Then write out the factors of 4^2 - a^2, using the same method of factoring.

Answer 25

then what

Answer 26

Candy, I am asking you to write out the factors.

a^2 - b^2 we have already discussed, and I've provided you with information from the 'Net which practically gives you the factors. What are those two factors, please?

Answer 27

i do not know

Answer 28

Have you opened and looked thru the info I shared with you?

http://assets.openstudy.com/updates/attachments/5313cbdce4b0594f90a862d2-mathmale-1393808345664-candy.png

If not, please do that now.

Answer 29

yes

Answer 30

ok i looked at it

Answer 31

and you've seen that the factors of a^2 - b^2 are what?