How do you factor $2a^3-16$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-16T04:28:51

The factor 2 is common to both the terms in the expression

$2a^3-16 = 2(a^3 - 8)$

$= 2(a^3 - 2^3)$

We know that $color(blue)(x^3 - y^3 = (x-y)(x^2 + xy +y^2)$
( Difference of Cubes Identity )

Hence $2(a^3 - 2^3) = 2(a-2)(a^2+2a+2^2)$

$= color(green)(2(a-2)(a^2+2a+4)$

How do you factor 2a^3-162a^3-16?