small math problem

[Istonian]

When there is no greatest common factor, yes.

 

[jo5h]

i just took a factoring class in college for a math requirement. Ill do the problem and see what i get, then take a pic of it.

 

[ericf19931]

ok thanks

 

[D-Lew]

There's a whole class on factoring???

Anyway...
from the original problem it's a trinomial square, so that factors to (a^2-1)(a^2-1) hence a^4 - a^2 - a^2 + 1. Remember FOIL.
Those two are a difference of squares so you get (a+1)(a-1)(a+1)(a-1)

Pretty easy once you get used to it.

 

[ericf19931]

ok thanks guys i have a test tomorrow and i didnt quite get this problem so that why im asking.

 

[PerfectSK]

Good luck on your test!

 

[ericf19931]

yay i got a 92% on my test i got 2 problems wrong though

 

[jo5h]

There's a whole class on factoring???

Anyway...
from the original problem it's a trinomial square, so that factors to (a^2-1)(a^2-1) hence a^4 - a^2 - a^2 + 1. Remember FOIL.
Those two are a difference of squares so you get (a+1)(a-1)(a+1)(a-1)

Pretty easy once you get used to it.

Yes i tested into college algebra and we spent 2-3 week on all kinds of factoring problems.(sum of cubes, differences of square, sum of squares of 2 consecutive integers, Quadratic Equations, Binomials and trinomials, few other don't remember all of them )Also sorry i did not post the answer to the problem, but the correct way is what D-lew has posted. Nice job on the math test btw.