Example

Factoring 27u3125v327u^3 - 125v^3

To factor the expression 27u3125v327u^3 - 125v^3, recognize it as a difference of two cubes. The first term is a perfect cube, 27u3=(3u)327u^3 = (3u)^3, and the last term is a perfect cube, 125v3=(5v)3125v^3 = (5v)^3. Apply the difference of cubes pattern a3b3=(ab)(a2+ab+b2)a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) with a=3ua = 3u and b=5vb = 5v. Substituting these values gives (3u5v)((3u)2+(3u)(5v)+(5v)2)(3u - 5v)((3u)^2 + (3u)(5v) + (5v)^2). Simplifying the terms within the second parenthesis results in the final factored form: (3u5v)(9u2+15uv+25v2)(3u - 5v)(9u^2 + 15uv + 25v^2). This can be checked by multiplying the two factors to verify they equal the original binomial.

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Updated 2026-04-30

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