a) x8 + x + 1 = (x^2+x+1)*(x^6-x^5+x^3-x^2+1)
b) x^8 + 3x^4 + 4 = (x^4-x^2+2)*(x^4+x^2+2)
\(x^8+x+1\)
\(=x^8+x^7+x^6-x^7-x^6-x^5+x^5+x^4+x^3-x^4-x^3-x^2+x^2+x+1\)
\(=x^6\left(x^2+x+1\right)-x^5\left(x^2+x+1\right)+x^3\left(x^2+x+1\right)-x^2\left(x^2+x+1\right)+x^2+x+1\)
\(=\left(x^2+x+1\right)\left(x^6-x^5+x^3-x^2+1\right)\)
\(x^8+3x^4+4\)
\(=x^8+4x^4+4-x^4\)
\(=\left(x^4+2\right)^2-x^4\)
\(=\left(x^4+x^2+2\right)\left(x^4-x^2+2\right)\)