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| Question 449967:  Factor the polynomial:
 1. x^2 - 49.
 2. 2a^4 - 21a^3 + 49a^2
 3. y^3 + 2y^2 - 81y - 162
 Answer by htmentor(1343)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 1. x^2 - 49 This is the difference of two squares: x^2-49 = (x+7)(x-7)
 2. 2a^4 - 21a^3 + 49a^2
 This has a factor of a^2: 2a^4 - 21a^3 + 49a^2 = a^2(2a^2 - 21a + 49)
 The expression inside the parentheses can be further factored as:
 2a^2 - 21a + 49 = (2a-7)(a-7)
 So the factorization is 2a^4 - 21a^3 + 49a^2 = a^2(2a-7)(a-7)
 3. y^3 + 2y^2 - 81y - 162
 By long division, you can confirm that y+2 is one of the factors, with a remainder y^2-81
 This can be further factored: y^2-81 = (y+9)(y-9)
 So the factorization is y^3 + 2y^2 - 81y - 162 = (y+2)(y+9)(y-9)
 
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