a) x⁴ + 2x² + 1
= (x²)² + 2.x².1 + 1²
= (x² + 1)²
b) 4x² - 12xy + 9y²
= (2x)² - 2.2x.3y + (3y)²
= (2x - 3y)²
c) -x² - 2xy - y²
= -(x² + 2xy + y²)
= -(x + y)²
d) (x + y)² - 2(x + y) + 1
= (x + y)² - 2.(x + y).1 + 1²
= (x - y + 1)²
e) x³ - 3x² + 3x - 1
= x³ - 3.x².1 + 3.x.1² - 1³
= (x - 1)³
g) x³ + 6x² + 12x + 8
= x³ + 3.x².2 + 3.x.2² + 2³
= (x + 2)³
h) x³ + 1 - x² - x
= (x³ + 1) - (x² + x)
= (x + 1)(x² - x + 1) - x(x + 1)
= (x + 1)(x² - x + 1 - x)
= (x + 1)(x² - 2x + 1)
= (x + 1)(x - 1)²
k) (x + y)³ - x³ - y³
= (x + y)³ - (x³ + y³)
= (x + y)³ - (x + y)(x² - xy + y²)
= (x + y)[(x + y)² - x² + xy - y²]
= (x + y)(x² + 2xy + y² - x² + xy - y²)
= (x + y).3xy
= 3xy(x + y)