College Algebra (11th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671791
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-179-0

Chapter R - Section R.4 - Factoring Polynomials - R.4 Exercises - Page 40: 105

Answer

Yes, if the use of imaginary number $i$ is allowed.. An example is $4x^2+9y^2=(2x-3yi)(2x+3yi)$.

Work Step by Step

We can factor the sum of two squares. However, as we will see, there will be an imaginary number $i$ in the solution. ($i = \sqrt {-1}$) Also, we can only factor the sum of two squares when both terms are squares. Example: $$4x^2+9y^2=(2x)^2+(3y)^2(1)$$ Since $1 = -1\cdot -1$, we can rewrite the previous line as $$\begin{align*} 4x^2+9y^2&=(2x)^2+(3y)^2(-1)(-1)\\ &=(2x)^2-(3y)^2(-1) \end{align*}$$ Since $\sqrt{-1}\cdot \sqrt{-1} = -1$ and $\sqrt{-1}=i$, we can rewrite the previous line as: $$\begin{align*} 4x^2+9y^2&=(2x)^2-(3y)^2(\sqrt{-1})(\sqrt{-1})\\ &=(2x)^2-(3y)^2(i)(i)\\ &=(2x)^2-(3y)^2(i^2)\\ &=(2x)^2-(3yi)^2 \end{align*}$$ Using the formula $a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)$, the expression above can be factored as: $$4x^2+9y^2=(2x-3yi)(2x+3yi)$$ Thus, $4x^2+9y^2=(2x-3yi)\cdot (2x+3yi)$.
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