Art of Problem Solving

Common factorizations: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
== Basic Factorizations ==
== Basic Factorizations ==


These are basic factorizations that are used all the time.  These should be memorized, but you one should also know where they are derived from.
These are basic factorizations that are used all the time.  These should be memorized, but one should also know how they are derived.


*<math>\displaystyle x^2-y^2=(x+y)(x-y)</math>
*<math>\displaystyle x^2-y^2=(x+y)(x-y)</math>
Line 8: Line 8:


*<math>\displaystyle x^3-y^3=(x-y)(x^2+xy+y^2)</math>
*<math>\displaystyle x^3-y^3=(x-y)(x^2+xy+y^2)</math>


== Vieta's/Newton Factorizations ==
== Vieta's/Newton Factorizations ==

Revision as of 09:33, 7 July 2006

Basic Factorizations

These are basic factorizations that are used all the time. These should be memorized, but one should also know how they are derived.

  • $\displaystyle x^2-y^2=(x+y)(x-y)$
  • $\displaystyle x^3+y^3=(x+y)(x^2-xy+y^2)$
  • $\displaystyle x^3-y^3=(x-y)(x^2+xy+y^2)$

Vieta's/Newton Factorizations

These factorizations are useful for problem that could otherwise be solved by Newton sums or problems that give a polynomial, and ask a question about the roots. Combined with Vieta's formulas, these are excellent factorizations that show up everywhere.

  • $\displaystyle (a+b+c)^2=a^2+b^2+c^2+2(ab+bc+ac)$
  • $\displaystyle (a+b+c)^3=a^3+b^3+c^3+3(a+b)(b+c)(a+c)$

Other Resources