Example

Factoring 500p3+4q3500p^3 + 4q^3

For the expression 500p3+4q3500p^3 + 4q^3, begin by factoring out the greatest common factor (GCF), which is 44. This yields 4(125p3+q3)4(125p^3 + q^3). The remaining binomial, 125p3+q3125p^3 + q^3, is a sum of cubes, because 125p3=(5p)3125p^3 = (5p)^3 and q3=(q)3q^3 = (q)^3. Applying the sum of cubes pattern a3+b3=(a+b)(a2ab+b2)a^3 + b^3 = (a + b)(a^2 - ab + b^2) provides (5p+q)((5p)2(5p)(q)+(q)2)(5p + q)((5p)^2 - (5p)(q) + (q)^2). Simplifying the trinomial and including the GCF gives the fully factored form: 4(5p+q)(25p25pq+q2)4(5p + q)(25p^2 - 5pq + q^2).

0

1

Updated 2026-04-30

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.6 Factoring - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Related