\(\text{a) }4x^{16}+81=4x^4+36x^2+81-36x^8\)
\(=\left(4x^{16}+36x^8+81\right)-36x^8\)
\(=\left[\left(2x^8\right)^2+2.2x^8.9+9^2\right]+\left(6x^4\right)^2\)
\(=\left(2x^8+9\right)^2-\left(6x^4\right)^2\)
\(=\left(2x^8+9-6x^4\right)\left(2x^8+9+6x^4\right)\)
\(\text{b) }x^4+2018x^2+2017x+2018\)
\(=x^4+2018x^2+2018x-x+2018\)
\(=\left(x^4-x\right)+\left(2018x^2+2018x+2018\right)\)
\(=x\left(x^3-1\right)-2018\left(x^2+x+1\right)\)
\(=x\left(x-1\right)\left(x^2+x+1\right)+2018\left(x^2+x+1\right)\)
\(=\left(x^2-x\right)\left(x^2+x+1\right)+2018\left(x^2+x+1\right)\)
\(=\left(x^2+x+1\right)\left(x^2-x+2018\right)\)
