# Math Help - Factoring

1. ## Factoring

Factor:

a)64x^3+8 b)72x^3-108x^2-140x c)x^3+3x^2-6x-8

I've become so depended on my calculator that I actually forget how to factor...help!

Thank you

2. The first one is the sum of two cubes. Remember the factoring for the sum of two cubes?. $(x+y)(x^{2}-xy+y^{2})$

You have $64x^{3}+8 = (4x)^{3}+(2)^{3}$

Now, use the formula.

For the second one. You can factor out 4x:

$4x(18x^{2}-27x-35)$

Now, factor the quadratic. What two numbers when multiplied equal -630 (because (-35)(18) = -630) and when added equal -27.

Hmmmm, let's see......how about -42 and 15.

$18x^{2}+15x-42x-35$

Group: $(18x^{2}+15x)-(42x+35)$

Factor out 3x in the first one and -7 out of the second:

$3x(6x+5)-7(6x+5)$

$(3x-7)(6x+5)$

Don't forget the 4x we factored out in the beginning.

$4x(3x-7)(6x+5)$

See how it's done now?.

Oh yeah, BTW, there is a way to remember the two different factorings for the cubes.

$SOAP: \;\ \;\ \boxed{S}ame, \;\ \boxed{O}pposite, \;\ \boxed{A}lways \;\ \boxed{P}ositive$

$x^{3}+y^{3}=(x+y)(x^{2}-xy+y^{2})$

$x^{3}-y^{3}=(x-y)(x^{2}+xy+y^{2})$

Note the signs in the factoring on the right side of the equals sign.

Then the first sign is the Same, then Opposite, then the last one is Always Positive. See what I mean?.