SOLUTION: what is a^6 - b^6

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Question 370424: what is a^6 - b^6
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
a%5E6%22%22-%22%22b%5E6
First factor as the difference of two squares by considering it as

red%28%28a%5E3%29%29%5E2%22%22-%22%22red%28%28b%5E3%29%29%5E2

That gives:

%28a%5E3-b%5E3%29%28a%5E3%2Bb%5E3%29

Now factor the first parenthetical expression as the difference of
two cubes and the second parenthetical expression as the sum of two
cubes:

%28a-b%29%28a%5E2%2Bab%2Bb%5E2%29%28a%2Bb%29%28a%5E2-ab%2Bb%5E2%29

Edwin