Adding Reply Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic gosh...any ideas about how to go about doing this problem??? Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:19 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Usually I'm good with this stuff but... s^2 - 2s + 1 - 64f^2 Any idea how to factor this?

Replies Siress Posted at 9:39 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 No, Carmen. No. (a+b)(a-b)!=a+b(a-b)!=a^2-b^2 != means not equal. Permious has been correct on everything I've read. carmen2487 Posted at 7:48 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 a^2-b^2=a+b(a-b) =] 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:42 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:39 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 the rule is x^3 - y^3 = (x - y)(x^2 + xy + y^2) so w^3 - 125 = w^3 - 5^3 = (w - 5)(w^2 + 5w + 25) which can't be factorised any further Yeah..I see that now...tonight is just a horrible night for math for me     Permious Posted at 7:39 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 the rule is x^3 - y^3 = (x - y)(x^2 + xy + y^2) so w^3 - 125 = w^3 - 5^3 = (w - 5)(w^2 + 5w + 25) which can't be factorised any further classicalandrew Posted at 7:36 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 i agree with permious...lol 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:36 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:34 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 (s - 1 - 8f)(s - 1 + 8f) = s(s - 1 + 8f) - 1(s - 1 + 8f) - 8f(s - 1 + 8f) = s^2 - s + 8fs - s + 1 - 8f - 8fs - 8f - 64f^2 = s^2 - 2s + 1 - 64f^2 yep i was totally right Hold on...I think my boyfriend is just typing it all in wrong...starting to piss me off.  Another problem asked for w^3 - 125 factored, and I gave him (w-5)^2(w+5) and it said it was wrong...because it didn't want that simplified of an answer. FUCKING starting to piss me off. Permious Posted at 7:34 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 (s - 1 - 8f)(s - 1 + 8f) = s(s - 1 + 8f) - 1(s - 1 + 8f) - 8f(s - 1 + 8f) = s^2 - s + 8fs - s + 1 - 8f - 8fs - 8f - 64f^2 = s^2 - 2s + 1 - 64f^2 yep i was totally right 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:32 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:31 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from 2kewl4u2know at 7:30 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from MixedDelight at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Math=heartache.         math is fucking awesome Looks like we were all wrong...the answer was: (s-1+8f)^2 (s-1-8f)^2   wtf   that answer is fucking wrong   it should be   (s - 1 + 8f)(s - 1 - 8f)   fucking trust me The math program my boyfriend (who I'm helping with these) is using fucking sucks... Permious Posted at 7:31 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 if you multiply out what i just wrote you WILL get s^2 - 2s + 1 - 64f^2 Permious Posted at 7:31 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from 2kewl4u2know at 7:30 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from MixedDelight at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Math=heartache.      math is fucking awesome Looks like we were all wrong...the answer was: (s-1+8f)^2 (s-1-8f)^2 wtf that answer is fucking wrong it should be (s - 1 + 8f)(s - 1 - 8f) fucking trust me 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:30 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from MixedDelight at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Math=heartache.   math is fucking awesome Looks like we were all wrong...the answer was: (s-1+8f)^2 (s-1-8f)^2 HuffleHaire Posted at 7:29 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from peace love sunshine at 9:21 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 it looks simplified to me. No. Permious Posted at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from MixedDelight at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Math=heartache. math is fucking awesome MixedDelight Posted at 7:27 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Math=heartache. 2kewl4u2know Posted at 7:25 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:23 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from 2kewl4u2know at 7:22 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 Quote: from Permious at 9:20 pm on Sep. 23, 2008 s^2 - 2s + 1 = (s - 1)^2   it's the diff of two squares   a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)    You neglected the -64f^2...and it's not set equal to 0...so I don't think you can do that... wtf i didnt neglect it at all i'm just informing you that s^2 - 2s + 1 = (s - 1)^2 and that you then have a difference of two squares and of course you can do it a^2 - b^2 is always equal to (a - b)(a + b) Sorry...I was forgetting that you can do that...the lack of parentheses threw me off...I feel like a goof     Most recent 15 of 25 previous replies displayed.