Question

Tomas learned that the product of the polynomials (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2) was a special pattern that would result in a sum of cubes, a3 + b3. His teacher put four products on the board and asked the class to identify which product would result in a sum of cubes if a = 2x and b = 1.

Answer 1

This problem might be clearer to you as well as to others if you'd please express the exponentiation properly:

Correct: "(a + b)(a^2 – ab + b^2) was a special pattern that would result in a sum of cubes, a^3 + b^3."

Incorrect: "(a + b)(a2 – ab + b2) was a special pattern that would result in a sum of cubes, a3 + b3."

Answer 2

Did four possible answer choices come with this problem? If so, please share them here.