How do you factor 49+y6?

3 Answers
May 31, 2015

y649=(y37)(y3+7)

May 31, 2015

y649=(y3+7)(y37)

Problem: Factor 49+y6.

Rewrite the equation as y649.

This is an example of the difference of squares:

(a2b2)=(a+b)(ab).

a=y3
b=7

(y3)272=(y3+7)(y37)

May 31, 2015

49+y6=y649=(y3)272=(y37)(y3+7)

This is as far as you can go with rational coefficients.

If you are allowed real coefficients:

y37=y3(37)3

=(y37)(y2+(37)y+(37)2)

and

y3+7=y3+(37)3

=(y+37)(y2(37)y+(37)2)

For shorthand I will write ρ=37

49+y6

=(yρ)(y2+ρy+ρ2)(y+ρ)(y2ρy+ρ2)