Factorization a3-b3=(a-b)(a2+ab+b2)

Factorization

a3-b3=(a-b)(a2+ab+b2)

Example 1

$$\textup{Expand } 8x^3-27 $$

Solution

\begin{align*} \because\;\;& a^3-b^3=(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)\\\\ &\therefore\;\; 8x^3-27\\ &=(2x)^3-(3)^3\\ &=(2x-3)[(2x)^2+(2x)(3)+(3)^2]\\ &=(2x-3)(4x^2+6x+9)\\ \end{align*}

Example 2

$$\textup{Expand } 27x^3-64 $$

Solution

\begin{align*} \because\;\;& a^3-b^3=(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)\\\\ &\therefore\;\; 27x^3-64\\ &=(3x)^3-(4)^3\\ &=(3x-4)[(3x)^2+(3x)(4)+(4)^2]\\ &=(3x-4)(9x^2+12x+16)\\ \end{align*}