To divide the polynomial \(x^3 - a^3\) by \(x - a\), we can use polynomial long division or apply the fact that \(x^3 - a^3\) is a difference of cubes.
The difference of cubes can be factored using the formula:
\[ x^3 - a^3 = (x - a)(x^2 + ax + a^2) \]
This indicates that when you divide \(x^3 - a^3\) by \(x - a\), the result is the polynomial \(x^2 + ax + a^2\).
Thus, the correct identity is:
\[ x^3 - a^3 = (x - a)(x^2 + ax + a^2) \]
This identity establishes the relationship between the difference of cubes and its factorization.
So the correct answer from the options provided is:
\(x^3 - a^3 = (x - a)(x^2 + ax + a^2)\)