Question

I need to factor = 16s^6-2f^6

My answer is 2(s-8)

Answer 1

what happened to the f^6 ?
(If you expanded your answer would you get the original ?)

16s^6-2f^6
= 2(8s^6 - f^6)

now 8s^6 = (2s^2)^3 and f^6 = (f^2)^3 so
knowing that A^3 - B^3 = (A-B)(a^2 + AB + b^2)

2(8s^6 - f^6)
= 2(2s^2 - f^2)(4s^4 + 2s^2f^2 + f^4)

Answer 2

How can 2s - 16 be the same as 16s^6-2f^6 ? Those functions are totally different. One is sixth order in s and is linear in s. One has f as a variable and the other does not.

16s^6 -2f^6 = 2(8s^6 - f^6)
= 2*(sqrt8 s^3 -f^3)(sqrt8 s^3+ f^3)

Further factoring of the cubic terms is possible. Look up how to factor a^3 - b^3 and a^3 + b^3.

Answer 3

thank u