1. ## Factorize:

Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized unlike $a^2+b^2$ ?

I think it can not be but there is a battle going on with me and my friend about this one.. So i just want to check it.

2. Originally Posted by great_math
Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized unlike $a^2+b^2$ ?

I think it can not be but there is a battle going on with me and my friend about this one.. So i just want to check it.
How would you factor that? I think your friend is mixing up

$a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$

3. Originally Posted by great_math
Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized unlike $a^2+b^2$ ?

I think it can not be but there is a battle going on with me and my friend about this one.. So i just want to check it.
If we were dealing with $a^3+b^3$, $a^5+b^5$ and so on (the odd exponents), it can be factored.

Since we are dealing with $a^2+b^2$ or $a^4+b^4$, it won't factor.

On the other hand, it is interesting to note that $a^6+b^6$, $a^{10}+b^{10}$ and others can be factored, whereas $a^8+b^8$, $a^{16}+b^{16}$, $a^{32}+b^{32}$, etc. cannot be factored....

In general, $a^k+b^k;~~k\geq 2$ can only be factored when $k\neq 2,~4,~8,~16,~32,...,~2^n;~~\forall~n\in\mathbb{N}$

--Chris

4. Originally Posted by great_math
Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized unlike $a^2+b^2$ ?

I think it can not be but there is a battle going on with me and my friend about this one.. So i just want to check it.
They can't be factorised using REAL factors. But they can be factorised using complex factors eg. a^2 + b^2 = (a + ib)(a - ib).

5. Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized using complex numbers ?

6. Originally Posted by great_math
Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized using complex numbers ?
Yes:

$\left(a - \left[ \frac{\sqrt{2} + i \sqrt{2}}{2}\right] b\right) \, \left(a - \left[ \frac{\sqrt{2} - i \sqrt{2}}{2}\right] b\right)$ $\left(a
+ \left[ \frac{\sqrt{2} - i \sqrt{2}}{2}\right] b\right) \, \left(a + \left[ \frac{\sqrt{2} + i \sqrt{2}}{2}\right] b\right)$
.

7. Originally Posted by great_math
Can $a^4+b^4$ be factorized using complex numbers ?
$a^4+b^4=\left(a+\dfrac12 \sqrt{b} + \dfrac12 \cdot i \cdot \sqrt{b} \right)\left(a+\dfrac12 \sqrt{b} - \dfrac12 \cdot i \cdot \sqrt{b} \right)$ $\left(a-\dfrac12 \sqrt{b} + \dfrac12 \cdot i \cdot \sqrt{b} \right) \left(a-\dfrac12 \sqrt{b} - \dfrac12 \cdot i \cdot \sqrt{b} \right)$

EDIT: Too late ... again!

8. or on real numbers: $a^4 + b^4 = (a^2 + b^2 - \sqrt{2}ab)(a^2 +b^2 + \sqrt{2}ab).$ now try to factorize $a^8 + b^8$ over real numbers! how many factors do you think $a^{2^n} + b^{2^n}$ will have over real numbers?

9. Originally Posted by NonCommAlg
or on real numbers: $a^4 + b^4 = (a^2 + b^2 - \sqrt{2}ab)(a^2 +b^2 + \sqrt{2}ab).$ now try to factorize $a^8 + b^8$ over real numbers!
Yes, there's a nice re-arrangement that makes it fall out nicely.

For the OP: $a^4 + b^4 = (a^4 + b^4 + 2a^2 b^2) - 2a^2 b^2 = (a^2 + b^2)^2 - (\sqrt{2} \, a b)^2 = \, ....$