How many half inch tiles would you need to cover the top of a 7 1/2 by 5 1/2 box

hello :

70y^8 + 30y^6 = 2 ( 35 y^8 + 15y^6)

the lenght is : 35 y^8

the width is : 15y^6

hello from mrbilldoesmath!

answer:

(7 x + 6 y) (49 x^2 - 42 x y + 36 y^2)

discussion:

the trick is to recognize that 343 = 7^3 and 216 = 6^3 and, in general,

a^3 + b^3 =   (a + b) (a^2 - a b + b^2).

in our case

343x^3+216y^3   =   (7x)^3 + (6y)^3

so take a = 7x and b = 6y in the above equation to get the answer.

you,

mrb