1) x2 + 2xy + y2 + 2x + 2y - 15
= ( x2 + 2xy + y2 + 2x + 2y + 1 ) - 16
= [ ( x2 + 2xy + y2 ) + 2( x + y ) + 12 ] - 42
= [ ( x + y )2 + 2( x + y ) + 12 ] - 42
= ( x + y + 1 )2 - 42
= ( x + y + 1 - 4 )( x + y + 1 + 4 )
= ( x + y - 3 )( x + y + 5 )
2) x4 - x3 + x2 - 1
= ( x4 - x3 ) + ( x2 - 1 )
= x3( x - 1 ) + ( x - 1 )( x + 1 )
= ( x - 1 )[ x3 + ( x + 1 ) ]
= ( x - 1 )( x3 + x + 1 )