Write as a product

Question

Write as a product

x^2–x^4

x²–x⁴

Answer 1

To start, notice that this is a difference of squares.

 

How would you factor something like:

 

(x² - 4)  ?

 

We would get 

 

(x + 2) * (x - 2)

 

right?

 

You were given a difference of squares, as well. It is just disguised a bit. x² is clearly a square, but what about x⁴? 

What squared gets you x⁴? x² does that. So we get:

 

(x + x²)(x - x²)

 

I hope this helps!