Difference between revisions of "Sophie Germain Identity"

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<div style="text-align:center;"><math>a^4 + 4b^4 = (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)(a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab)</math></div>
 
<div style="text-align:center;"><math>a^4 + 4b^4 = (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)(a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab)</math></div>
  
One can prove this identity simply by multiplying out the right side and verifying that it equals the left.  To derive the [[factorization | factoring]], first [[completing the square]] and then factor as a [[difference of squares]]:
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One can prove this identity simply by multiplying out the right side and verifying that it equals the left.  To derive the [[factoring]], first [[completing the square]] and then factor as a [[difference of squares]]:
  
 
<math>\begin{align*}a^4 + 4b^4 & = a^4 + 4a^2b^2 + 4b^4 - 4a^2b^2 \\
 
<math>\begin{align*}a^4 + 4b^4 & = a^4 + 4a^2b^2 + 4b^4 - 4a^2b^2 \\

Revision as of 20:52, 12 March 2009

The Sophie Germain Identity states that:

$a^4 + 4b^4 = (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)(a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab)$

One can prove this identity simply by multiplying out the right side and verifying that it equals the left. To derive the factoring, first completing the square and then factor as a difference of squares:

$\begin{align*}a^4 + 4b^4 & = a^4 + 4a^2b^2 + 4b^4 - 4a^2b^2 \\ & = (a^2 + 2b^2)^2 - (2ab)^2 \\ & = (a^2 + 2b^2 - 2ab) (a^2 + 2b^2 + 2ab)\end{align*}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

Problems

Introductory

Intermediate

See Also