Example

Factoring (y+1)327y3(y + 1)^3 - 27y^3

To factor the expression (y+1)327y3(y + 1)^3 - 27y^3, recognize that both terms are perfect cubes: (y+1)3(y + 1)^3 and 27y3=(3y)327y^3 = (3y)^3. Apply the difference of cubes formula a3b3=(ab)(a2+ab+b2)a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) using a=y+1a = y + 1 and b=3yb = 3y. This yields ((y+1)3y)((y+1)2+(y+1)(3y)+(3y)2)((y + 1) - 3y)((y + 1)^2 + (y + 1)(3y) + (3y)^2). The binomial simplifies to (2y+1)(-2y + 1). The trinomial expands to (y2+2y+1)+(3y2+3y)+9y2(y^2 + 2y + 1) + (3y^2 + 3y) + 9y^2, which combines to 13y2+5y+113y^2 + 5y + 1. The completely factored expression is (2y+1)(13y2+5y+1)(-2y + 1)(13y^2 + 5y + 1).

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Updated 2026-04-30

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