[Blindmath] Help factoring a crazy trinomial

[Sean Tikkun]

This trinomial can be deceiving.  I'm wondering if there is a typo somewhere.  Should the last factor be +1 ?

(x-1)(x+1) = (x^2-1), since you have two of these...
(x^2-1)(x^2-1) = x^4-2x^2+1, not x^4-2x^2-1

you could x^4-2x^2+1 if you had (x^2-1)(x^2-1) which would then be factored down to (x+1)(x-1)(x+1)(x-1)

Check for typo.....


On Oct 23, 2013, at 1:49 PM, GianniP46 <giannip46 at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
> I need help factoring X^4-2X^2-1
> 
> I am thinking that there is a way of re writing this as a four termed expression where the product of the first and last terms must equal the product of the two middle terms, but I am stuck :(
> I know the answer is (X+1)(X-1)(X+1)(X-1)
> Feeling very dumb, any help would be appreciated THANKS lol
> 
> Gian Pedulla
> Giannip46 at earthlink.net
> 
> LETS GO METS!
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