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?

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?

agent0smith · Answer

If you can factor x^4-16

Then you can factor x^2-4

republican31 · Answer

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?

kinged · Answer

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

republican31 · Answer

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

kinged · Answer

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

republican31 · Answer

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