SOLUTION: factor the following expression completely: x^4-17x^2+16

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Question 1029889: factor the following expression completely: x^4-17x^2+16
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, Boreal:
Answer by ikleyn(52756) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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factor the following expression completely: x^4-17x^2+16
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x%5E4-17x%5E2%2B16 = %28x%5E2-16%29%2A%28x%5E2-1%29 = (x-4)*(x+4)*(x-1)*(x+1).


Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x^4-17x^2+16
(x^2-1)(x^2-16), factor it just like it were a quadratic. Now, factor both as a difference of squares.
(x+1)(x-1)(x+4)(x-4)