Thursday, July 30, 2015

2015/071) Factor $y^4-y^2+16$

This can be factored by completing the square. By changing the $y^2$ term

$y^4 -y^2 +16$
= $y^4 -y^2+8y^2-8y^2 +16$
= $y^4 +8y^2 +16 -9y^2$
= $(y^2+4)^2 -(3y)^2$
= $(y^2-3y+4)(y^2+3y+4)$

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