document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=189583>Question 189583</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Can you please help me solve this? I'm supposed to factor using the formula <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%2Bb%29%28a%5E2-ab%2Bb%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%2Bb%29%28a%5E2-ab%2Bb%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > or <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a-b%29%28a%5E2-ab%2Bb%5E2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a-b%29%28a%5E2-ab%2Bb%5E2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  but I'm not exactly sure which one, and how to. <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #142256 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=142256\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Looking at <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > we can see that the first term is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and the last term is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where the coefficients are 1 and -8 respectively.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now multiply the first coefficient 1 and the last coefficient -8 to get -8. Now what two numbers multiply to -8 and add to the  middle coefficient -7? Let's list all of the factors of -8:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Factors of -8:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "1,2,4,8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-1,-2,-4,-8 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "These factors pair up and multiply to -8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(1)*(-8)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(2)*(-4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(-1)*(8)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(-2)*(4)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now which of these pairs add to -7? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -7\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<th>First Number</th><th>Second Number</th><th>Sum</th><tr><TD  align=\"center\">1</TD><TD  align=\"center\">-8</TD><TD >1+(-8)=-7</TD></tr><tr><TD  align=\"center\">2</TD><TD  align=\"center\">-4</TD><TD >2+(-4)=-2</TD></tr><tr><TD  align=\"center\">-1</TD><TD  align=\"center\">8</TD><TD >-1+8=7</TD></tr><tr><TD  align=\"center\">-2</TD><TD  align=\"center\">4</TD><TD >-2+4=2</TD></tr>\n" );
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document.write( "From this list we can see that 1 and -8 add up to -7 and multiply to -8\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now looking at the expression <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, replace <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > with <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-8x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-8x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (notice <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-8x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-8x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > combines to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >. So it is equivalent to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4%2Bhighlight%28x%5E2-8x%5E2%29%2B-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4%2Bhighlight%28x%5E2-8x%5E2%29%2B-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now let's factor <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > by grouping:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E4%2Bx%5E2%29%2B%28-8x%5E2-8%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E4%2Bx%5E2%29%2B%28-8x%5E2-8%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Group like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%28x%5E2%2B1%29-8%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%28x%5E2%2B1%29-8%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Factor out the GCF of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > out of the second group\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Since we have a common term of <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2%2B1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2%2B1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >, we can combine like terms\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > factors to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So this also means that <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > factors to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (since <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > is equivalent to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4%2Bx%5E2-8x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "     Answer:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E4-7x%5E2-8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E4-7x%5E2-8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > factors to <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x%5E2-8%29%28x%5E2%2B1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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