a/ $=x^2(x^2+2x+1)-y^2\\=[x(x+1)]^2-y^2\\=[x(x+1)-y][x(x+1)+y]\\=(x^2+x-y)(x^2+x+y)$
b/ $=(x^3-8)+(x^2-2x)\\=(x-2)(x^2+2x+4)+x(x-2)\\=(x-2)(x^2+2x+5)$
\(x^4+2x^3+x^2-y^2=x^2\left(x+1\right)^2-y^2\\ =\left[x\left(x+1\right)-y\right]\left[x\left(x+1\right)+y\right]\\ =\left(x^2+x-y\right)\left(x^2+x+y\right)\\ x^3+x^2-2x-8=x^3-2x^2+3x^2-6x+4x-8\\ =\left(x-2\right)\left(x^2+3x-4\right)\)