# Thread: factoring polynomials - I have been stuck for a while

1. ## factoring polynomials - I have been stuck for a while

2.x9 + 1

3. 2m4 - 2mn3

4. 3a4 + 81a

B. Can These Be Factored using the methods (GCF, squares, cubes) discussed in thislesson? Yes or No? Explain why or why not in a complete sentence?
5. 7x5 - 64y

6. a4 + 1

7. a4 – 64

C. Factor completelyusing Grouping
8. xy – 5y – 2x + 10

9. x3 + x2 -x – 1

D. Apply Your Knowledge
10. Suppose a football iskicked from the ground and its height, h, in feet above the ground is given byh = -3.9t2 + 15.6t.
The time, t, represents thenumber of seconds after the ball is kicked. At what time does the football hitthe ground?

2. ## Re: factoring polynomials - I have been stuck for a while

Where are you stuck?

3. ## Re: factoring polynomials - I have been stuck for a while

everything after number four... I figured it out up to there.

4. ## Re: factoring polynomials - I have been stuck for a while

Let's take a look at 5.
7x^5 - 64y
Can we factor anything common from both terms? No.

Is this in the forms
$\displaystyle a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)$ Nope.

$\displaystyle a^3 + b^3 = (a + b)(a^2 - ab + b^2)$ Nope.

$\displaystyle a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)$ Nope.

So you can't factor it by any means that you have been told to check.

Try the other ones and get back to us.

-Dan