How would you factor a^3 - b^3? Please leave detailed instructions. Thanks so much!

a³ - b³ = (a - b) (a² + ab + b²)

You can see why this works if you expand the right side as

a (a² + ab + b²) - b (a² + ab + b²)

(a³ + a²b + ab²) - (a²b + ab² + b³)

Both the a²b and ab² terms cancel, leaving you with a³ - b³.

the correct answer is the second option

see explanation

step-by-step explanation:

since the sequence is geometric there is a common ratio r between consecutive terms, that is

r = 4 ÷ - 2 = - 2

r = - 8 ÷ 4 = - 2

r = 16 ÷ 8 = - 2

the next term - 13 must be incorrect as it should be - 32 for the sequence to be geometric.

the first 4 terms are therefore geometric with common ratio r = - 2