Algebra
Intermediate

Difference of Cubes

Factors the difference of two cubes.

Formula

a3−b3=(a−b)(a2+ab+b2)a^3 - b^3 = (a-b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)

Variables

a, bAny real numbers

Example

27 − 8 = 3³ − 2³ = (3−2)(9 + 6 + 4) = 1×19 = 19. ✓

Did You Know?

Fermat's Last Theorem says a³ + b³ = c³ has no positive integer solutions — a claim that took 358 years to prove.

factoringidentitycubes