Example

Factoring x31000x^3 - 1000

Factor x31000x^3 - 1000 by recognizing it as a difference of cubes and applying the difference of cubes pattern.

Step 1 — Does the binomial fit the pattern? The expression is a difference. The first term x3x^3 is a perfect cube, and the last term 1000=1031000 = 10^3 is also a perfect cube. So this is a difference of two cubes.

Step 2 — Write the terms as cubes. Identify a=xa = x and b=10b = 10:

x31000=x3103x^3 - 1000 = x^3 - 10^3

Step 3 — Apply the difference of cubes pattern a3b3=(ab)(a2+ab+b2)a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2):

(x10)(x2+x10+102)(x - 10)(x^2 + x \cdot 10 + 10^2)

Step 4 — Simplify:

(x10)(x2+10x+100)(x - 10)(x^2 + 10x + 100)

Step 5 — Check by multiplying:

(x10)(x2+10x+100)=x3+10x2+100x10x2100x1000=x31000(x - 10)(x^2 + 10x + 100) = x^3 + 10x^2 + 100x - 10x^2 - 100x - 1000 = x^3 - 1000

The factored form is (x10)(x2+10x+100)(x - 10)(x^2 + 10x + 100). Because this is a difference of cubes, the binomial factor uses subtraction (x10)(x - 10) and the trinomial factor has a positive middle term (+10x)(+10x) — the opposite sign from the binomial factor, as the pattern predicts.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-21

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.7 Factoring - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Prealgebra

Related
Learn After