How do you factor $w^2 + 4t^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-10T19:48:59

$w^2+4t^2$ is already completely factored - at least if you are restricted to real coefficients.

If you were allowed complex coefficients, it would be possible to factor completely as:

$w^2+4t^2 = (w+2it)(w-2it)$
(where $i = sqrt(-1)$ )

...but neither of these linear factors has all real coefficients.

How do you factor w^2 + 4t^2w^2 + 4t^2?