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Common factorizations

From AoPSWiki

These are common factorizations.

Contents

Basic Factorizations

  • x^2-y^2=(x+y)(x-y)
  • x^3+y^3=(x+y)(x^2-xy+y^2)
  • 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, useful factorizations.

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

Esoteric Identities

  • a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-ac-bc=((a-b)^2+(b-c)^2+(c-a)^2)/2
  • a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc=(a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-ac-bc)

Other Resources

Want to learn how to tackle those tough AMC/AIME/Olympiad algebra problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Intermediate Algebra by Richard Rusczyk and Mathew Crawford. Over 1600 problems!
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