# X^n - y^n proof

Gold Member

## Homework Statement

Prove xn - yn = (x-y)(xn-1 + xn-2y + ... + xyn-2 + yn-1)

See Above

## The Attempt at a Solution

The previous problem in the book was:
Prove:
x3 - y3 = (x - y)(x2 + xy + y2)

(x - y)(x2 + xy + y2)
(x)(x2 + xy + y^2) + (-y)(x2 + xy + y2)
(x3 + x2y + xy2) + (-x2y - xy2 - y3)
x3 + x2y + xy2 - x2y - xy2 - y3
x3 - y3

I'm not sure how to show the same thing when the exponent is variable though.

## Answers and Replies

Dick
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Do the same thing you did for x^3-y^3. Multiply out the right side. Many terms cancel.

Gold Member
I know they cancel, but.. how am I supposed to show that?

random do you happen to be using the Spivaks calculus book?

try multiplying (x-y) with all of the terms you have listedm like xn-1, xn-2y, etc and go from there

Gold Member
Yes, I am using Spivak's calculus. It's unlike any math book I've ever used before, so I am kind of confused as to what they are expecting me to do.

I'll think about what you just said.

I definitely agree with you. I too am using Spivak's calculus book (my class just finished chapter 2, I'm a sophomore so I'm going a little slower through the book). But yeah start by multiplying the beginning terms you have, and the end terms you have. good luck!

Dick
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Write out x*(x^(n-1)+x^(n-2)*y+...+x*y^(n-2)+y^(n-1)) and y*(x^(n-1)+x^(n-2)*y+...+x*y^(n-2)+y^(n-1)) and look for things that cancel. E.g. x*x^(n-2)*y cancels y*x^(n-1), x*x^(n-3)*y^2 cancels y*x^(n-2)*y. I know you can't write out all of the terms. You'll have to use the '...' to express what you mean. It might help to write the two expanded products on separate lines and shift one over so cancelling terms are above each other.

Last edited:
Gold Member
$$(x-y)(x^{n-1} + x^{n-2}y + ... + xy^{n-2} + y^{n-1})$$

$$(x)(x^{n-1} + x^{n-2}y + ... + xy^{n-2} + y^{n-1}) + (-y)(x^{n-1} + x^{n-2}y + ... + xy^{n-2} + y^{n-1})$$

$$(x^{n-1+1} + x^{n-2+1}y + ... + x^{2}y^{n-2} + xy^{n-1}) + (-x^{n-1}y - x^{n-2}y^{2} - ... - xy^{n-2+1} - y^{n-1+1})$$

$$x^{n} + x^{n-1}y + ... + x^{2}y^{n-2} + xy^{n-1} -x^{n-1}y - x^{n-2}y^{2} - ... - xy^{n-1} - y^{n}$$

$$x^{n} + ... + x^{2}y^{n-2} - x^{n-2}y^{2} - ... - y^{n}$$

... now I'm stuck.

Last edited:
Mentallic
Homework Helper
Well, to prove $$x^n-y^n=(x-y)(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+x^{n-3}y^2+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1})$$
we are just going to expand the RHS.

$$RHS=x(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1}) - y(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1})$$

The first factor is expanded:
$$x^n+x^{n-1}y+x^{n-2}y^2+....+x^2y^{n-2}+xy^{n-1}$$

The second factor is expanded:
$$-(x^{n-1}y+x^{n-2}y^2+....+x^2y^{n-2}+xy^{n-1}+y^n)$$

Do you notice any cancelling pattern happening?

Gold Member
Well, to prove $$x^n-y^n=(x-y)(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+x^{n-3}y^2+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1})$$
we are just going to expand the RHS.

$$RHS=x(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1}) - y(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1})$$

The first factor is expanded:
$$x^n+x^{n-1}y+x^{n-2}y^2+....+x^2y^{n-2}+xy^{n-1}$$

The second factor is expanded:
$$-(x^{n-1}y+x^{n-2}y^2+....+x^2y^{n-2}+xy^{n-1}+y^n)$$

Do you notice any cancelling pattern happening?

Yeah I knew they all canceled intuitively, just wasn't sure how to show it on paper.
Filling in the blanks one step further makes it more clear.

Mentallic
Homework Helper
Well how about making it obvious to the examiner that you realize they cancel by lining up each equal term?

i.e. after the line $$x(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1}) - y(x^{n-1}+x^{n-2}y+....+xy^{n-2}+y^{n-1})$$

Then expand the first factor on 1 line, then expand the next factor on the line underneath, but keep cancelling factors in line with each other.

$$x^n+x^{n-1}y+x^{n-2}y^2+....+x^2y^{n-2}+xy^{n-1}$$
$$.....-x^{n-1}y-x^{n-2}y^2-.... -x^2y^{n-2} - xy^{n-1} - y^n$$

get the idea?