a) 16x2 - ( x2 + 4 )2
= ( 4x )2 - ( x2 + 4 )2
= [ 4x - ( x2 + 4 ) ][ 4x + ( x2 + 4 ) ]
= ( -x2 + 4x - 4 )( x2 + 4x + 4 )
= [ -( x2 - 4x + 4 ) ]( x + 2 )2
= [ -( x - 2 )2 ]( x + 2 )2
b) ( x + y )3 + ( x - y )3
= [ ( x + y ) + ( x - y ) ][ ( x + y )2 - ( x + y )( x - y ) + ( x - y )2 ]
= ( x + y + x - y )[ x2 + 2xy + y2 - ( x2 - y2 ) + x2 - 2xy + y2 ]
= 2x( 2x2 + 2y2 - x2 + y2
= 2x( x2 + 3y2 )