1. ## Factoring

Hello, I have a question regarding a problem..

Problem states

24k^3m-375m^4 = ?

is there a special factorization method to solve this problem? is this a prime polynomial?

2. Originally Posted by cokeclassic
Hello, I have a question regarding a problem..

Problem states

24k^3m-375m^4 = ?

is there a special factorization method to solve this problem? is this a prime polynomial?
From what I can see there is a factor of $3m$ so lets start there:

$3m(8k^3-125m^3)$

The expression in the brackets is the difference of two cubes( $8 = 2^3$ and $125 = 5^3$). The formula for the difference of two cubes is $a^3-b^3 = (a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)$

$3m(2k-5m)(4k^2+10mk+25m^2)$

As far as I know it will not factor further

3. thanks, i got it..... if you dont mind i have another question regarding a question with simplifying operations it states

x/(x-1)^2 - 2/x(x-1), the books says that I have to get a common denominator and then subtract the numerator from each other... How exactly do I get a common denomination for this?

thanks

4. Originally Posted by cokeclassic
thanks, i got it..... if you dont mind i have another question regarding a question with simplifying operations it states

x/(x-1)^2 - 2/x(x-1), the books says that I have to get a common denominator and then subtract the numerator from each other... How exactly do I get a common denomination for this?

thanks
a common denominator contains all the factors of each individual denominator ...

$x(x-1)^2$ is the common denominator.

btw ... in future, start a new problem w/ a new thread.