MHB Is Expanding (x - a)^4 Necessary for Factoring 64(x - a)^4 - x + a?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mathdad
  • Start date Start date
mathdad
Messages
1,280
Reaction score
0
Factor: 64(x - a)^4 - x + a

Must I expand (x - a)^4 as step 1?
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
As a first step, I would write:

$$64(x-a)^4-x+a=64(x-a)^4-(x-a)$$

Next factor out $x-a$, and the other factor will be the difference of cubes. :D
 
I can take it from here.
 

Thread 'Trigonometry problem of interest'

Seemingly by some mathematical coincidence, a hexagon of sides 2,2,7,7, 11, and 11 can be inscribed in a circle of radius 7. The other day I saw a math problem on line, which they said came from a Polish Olympiad, where you compute the length x of the 3rd side which is the same as the radius, so that the sides of length 2,x, and 11 are inscribed on the arc of a semi-circle. The law of cosines applied twice gives the answer for x of exactly 7, but the arithmetic is so complex that the...
View full post »

Similar threads

B Have I proved some part of Fermat's last theorem?
Replies
15
Views
2K
MHB Express cos(2 tan^-1(x/4)) and sin(2tan^-1(x/4) as an algebraic expression in x
Replies
3
Views
2K
MHB Rewrite in exponential form: Log(6) 1294 = 4
Replies
2
Views
2K
MHB Condition for A Quartic Equation to have a Real Root
Replies
2
Views
1K
B About a definition: What is the number of terms of a polynomial P(x)?
Replies
48
Views
3K
MHB Factoring x^2 + 64: Is it Possible?
Replies
2
Views
2K
MHB How can we show that one of these congruences hold?
Replies
5
Views
2K
MHB Is x+1 a Factor of the Polynomial x^3-5x^2+3x+1?
Replies
2
Views
1K
MHB Prove Trig Identity: $\sin^7 x=\dfrac{35\sin x-21\sin 3x+7\sin 5x-\sin 7x}{64}$
Replies
1
Views
1K
MHB Factoring Fractional Expression
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top