Notes – Factoring Sums & Differences of Cubes Name:___________________

Factoring Cubics: a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)

a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)

Note the pattern of the signs: a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)

same opposite positive a and b are always positive!

The sign is part of the formula.
a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)

Examples:

A) x3 + 27 = x3 + 33 = (x + 3)(x2 – 3x + 9)

B) x3 – 8 = x3 – 23 = (x – 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)

C) 27x3 – 8 = (3x)3 – 23 = (3x – 2)(9x2 + 6x + 4)

Think of the middle step to determine a & b, but you don’t have to write it down.

Problems:

1. x3 + 8

2. 64x3 – y3

3. x3 – 27

4. 8x3 + 1