First, find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of the two terms.
Start by listing down their factors.
Factors of 5u45u4: 55×u×u×u×u×u×u×u×u
Factors of 55: 1×1×55
Both 5u45u4 and 55 have 55 as their factor, so it is the GCF.
Next, factor by placing 55 outside a bracket.
Also, place the given polynomial inside the bracket with each term divided by 55, then simplify.
5[(5u4÷5)-(5÷5)]5[(5u4÷5)−(5÷5)]
==
5(u4-1)5(u4−1)
Next, express both terms inside the parenthesis as perfect squares. In other words, both terms should have 22 as their exponent.
u4-1u4−1
==
(u2)2-1(u2)2−1
(u2)2=u4(u2)2=u4
==
(u2)2-12(u2)2−12
12=112=1
Next, label the values in the expression (u2)2-12(u2)2−12 and substitute the values into the formula given for Factoring the Difference of Two Squares.
a=u2a=u2
b=2b=2
a2−b2a2−b2
==
(a+b)(a−b)(a+b)(a−b)
5(u2)2−125(u2)2−12
==
5(u2+1)(u2−1)5(u2+1)(u2−1)
Now, express both terms inside the second parenthesis as perfect squares. In other words, both terms should have 22 as their exponent.
u2-1u2−1
==
u2-12u2−12
12=112=1
Finally, label the values in the expression u2-12u2−12 and substitute the values into the formula given for Factoring the Difference of Two Squares.