How do you factor a^3 + b^3a3+b3?

1 Answer
Feb 19, 2017

(a+b)(a^2 -ab +b^2)(a+b)(a2ab+b2)

Explanation:

In order to factor a^3 + b^3a3+b3
we must recognize that a^3a3 is a perfect cube with a factor of aa
and b^3b3 is a perfect cube with a factor of bb

The factor pattern for a binomial of perfect cubes is
(a+b)(a^2 -ab +b^2)(a+b)(a2ab+b2)
The factor of a^3a3 and the factor of b^3b3 go in the first parenthesis.
The second parenthesis has
the factor of a^3a3 squared (a^2)(a2)
the factor of a^3a3 times the factor of b^3b3 (ab)(ab)
and the factor of b^3b3 squared. (b^2)(b2)

For the signs we use the SOAP rule.

The First sign is the SAME as the sign in the binomial.
The Second sign is OPPOSITE of the sign in the binomial.
The Third sign is ALWAYS POSITIVE.

S- SAME
O- OPPOSITE
A- ALWAYS
P- POSITIVE