Question

Which of the following shows the general formula for factoring the difference of cubes?

Answer 1

Answer:

(a - b)(a² + ab + b²)

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference of cubes is expressed as:

a³-b³

Using trial and error:

a³-b³

Check  (a - b)(a² + ab + b²)

Expand

(a - b)(a² + ab + b²)

= a(a²)+a(ab)+a(b²)-a²b-ab²-b³

= a³+a²b+a(b²)-a²b-ab²-b³

Collect the like terms

= a³+a²b-a²b+ab²-ab²-b³

= a³-b³

Hence the required option is