Factoring...

[Big Boom]

Does anyone want to help me with this? It's taking a long time to solve... >:/

Factor: (a+b)^4 - (a-b)^4

[Nointeled]

I know... Why don't you actually pay attention in class.

[Zolen]

4A+4B 4A-4B

8A

[Big Boom]

I finally figured it out, also Zolen the equation within the parentheses is to the 4th power. So it would be (a+b)(a+b)(a+b)(a+b)
So much multiplication >_<

[Zolen]

Math is hard

[Shinoi]

(a+b)^4 - (a+b)^4 = 4a + 4b - 4a - 4b = 0
I think, but I'm bad at Maths :/

[Polo]

oh boy! Binomial Expansions and shit. It's been a while.
(a+b)^4 - (a-b)^4
= (a+b)(a+b)(a+b)(a+b) - (a-b)(a-b)(a-b)(a-b)
= a^4 + 4(a^3)(b) + 6(a^2)(b^2) + 4(a)(b^3) + (b^4) - a^4 + 4(a^3)(-b) + 6(a^2)((-b)^2) + 4(a)((-b)^3) + ((-b)^4)

work the rest out you slut

[Oscar]

Oh gawd, my head would explode if I attemped this. Good thing not everyone's like me.

[Shinoi]

*looks at his salvation*
*looks at Polo's*
:<
*looks at Oscar's post*

[sammyd]

Maths Fun!!!

[Sirrin Nacht]

oh boy! Binomial Expansions and shit. It's been a while.
(a+b)^4 - (a-b)^4
= (a+b)(a+b)(a+b)(a+b) - (a-b)(a-b)(a-b)(a-b)
= a^4 + 4(a^3)(b) + 6(a^2)(b^2) + 4(a)(b^3) + (b^4) - a^4 + 4(a^3)(-b) + 6(a^2)((-b)^2) + 4(a)((-b)^3) + ((-b)^4)

work the rest out you slut

You're supposed to factor it Polo.

Perfect squares. Factor them out.
(a+b)^4-(a-b)^4

Right parentheses is a perfect square, so factor it out below. Bring down left parentheses.
((a+b)^2(a-b)^2) ((a+b)^2(a+b)^2)

Cancel out the b's in the left parentheses, leaving 2a. Cancel out the a's in the right parentheses, leaving 2b.
((a+b)+(a-b)) ((a+b)-(a-b))

2a+2b((a+b)^2+(a-b)^2)

Final answer.
4ab((a+b)^2(a-b)^2)


Edit: I had my old Algebra w/ Trigonometry teacher check my math to make sure.

[Big Boom]

(a+b)^4 - (a-b)^4

[(a+b)^2]^2 - [(a-b)^2]^2

[(a+b)^2 + (a-b)^2] [(a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2] - Sum of squares and difference of squares >_<

(a^2 + 2ab + b^2 + a^2 - 2ab + b^2) [(a+b) + (a-b)] [(a+b) - (a-b)] - Ugh

(2a^2 + 2b^2) (2a) (2b)

2(a^2 + b^2) (2a) (2b)

8ab(a^2 + b^2) That's what I ended up with :S

[DrunkCat]

You guys make me proud. Don't think this shit doesn't pay off. It does. Obviously not in real life, but you need to learn this stuff like the back of your hand once you get into Calculus.

[Polo]

You're supposed to factor it Polo.

why the hell did i expand it i have no idea