(i) Explain briefly why the polynomial cannot be expressed as a product of two…

MATHEMATICS · Subjective · GCSE · Mathematics · Algebra · Algebra

Problem

(i) Explain briefly why the polynomial

x^2+16

cannot be expressed as a product of two non-constant polynomials with integer coefficients, while

x^2-16

can. (ii) Factorise

x^2-16

completely, showing each step of your working.