Example

Factoring 4a5b64ab4a^5b - 64ab

Factor 4a5b64ab4a^5b - 64ab completely.

First, extract the greatest common factor, which is 4ab4ab. Factoring it out yields: 4ab(a416)4ab(a^4 - 16)

The binomial inside the parentheses is a difference of squares since a4=(a2)2a^4 = (a^2)^2 and 16=4216 = 4^2. Factor it into a product of conjugates: 4ab(a24)(a2+4)4ab(a^2 - 4)(a^2 + 4)

Check the new binomial factors to see if they can be factored further. The first binomial, a24a^2 - 4, is again a difference of squares, while the second, a2+4a^2 + 4, is a sum of squares and cannot be factored over real numbers. Factor the difference of squares to obtain the completely factored form: 4ab(a2)(a+2)(a2+4)4ab(a - 2)(a + 2)(a^2 + 4)

Multiply the factors to verify the result.

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Updated 2026-04-30

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