a) x3 + 2x2y + xy2– 9x = x(x2 +2xy + y2 – 9)
= x[(x2 + 2xy + y2) – 9]
= x[(x + y)2 – 32]
= x(x + y – 3)(x + y + 3)
b) 2x – 2y – x2 + 2xy – y2 = (2x – 2y) – (x2 – 2xy + y2)
= 2(x – y) – (x – y)2
= (x – y)[2 – (x – y)]
= (x – y)(2 – x + y)
c) x4 – 2x2 = x2(x2 – (√2)2) = x2(x - √2)(x + √2).