SOLUTION: Hello. my problem is a^8-b^8 or a to the eighth minus b to the eighth. Please help me learn how to work this.

Algebra ->  Average -> SOLUTION: Hello. my problem is a^8-b^8 or a to the eighth minus b to the eighth. Please help me learn how to work this.      Log On


   

Question 600727: Hello. my problem is
a^8-b^8
or a to the eighth minus b to the eighth. Please help me learn how to work this.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a%5E8-b%5E8

%28a%5E4%29%5E2-%28b%5E4%29%5E2

%28a%5E4-b%5E4%29%28a%5E4%2Bb%5E4%29

%28%28a%5E2%29%5E2-%28b%5E2%29%5E2%29%28a%5E4%2Bb%5E4%29

%28a%5E2-b%5E2%29%28a%5E2%2Bb%5E2%29%28a%5E4%2Bb%5E4%29

%28a-b%29%28a%2Bb%29%28a%5E2%2Bb%5E2%29%28a%5E4%2Bb%5E4%29

So a%5E8-b%5E8 completely factors to %28a-b%29%28a%2Bb%29%28a%5E2%2Bb%5E2%29%28a%5E4%2Bb%5E4%29