Question

Factorise.

16x⁵ − 144x³

Answer 1

16x⁵ − 144x³

= 16x³(x² − 9)

On writing it as follows:

= 16x³ [(x)² − (3)²] 

Using the identity a² − b² = (a − b) (a + b)

= 16x³ (x − 3) (x + 3)

= a² − b² 

= (a − b) (a + b)