Question

Factor the difference of squares:
x^4-16
I can get it to (x^2+4)(x^2-4) and I can see it should be reduced further, but I'm not sure how to form that?

Answer 1

If you can factor x^4-16

Then you can factor x^2-4

Answer 2

I'm just not sure how to format it. It's an online class so it's going to want it to look a specific way. How should it look?

Answer 3

You can only factor the (x^2-4)

Answer 4

Ok I remember the lesson saying that now. So (x^2+4)(x-2)(x-2)?

Answer 5

Nope. (x^2-4) is (x+2)(x-2). Take care with the signs.

Answer 6

Ah ok. Thank you!!!! I'll only have thirty more questions like this to beat this concept into my head now. Thank you!