Solve x^8-y^8

$${ x }^{ 8 } - { y }^{ 8 }$$

Factor

$$\left(x-y\right)\left(x+y\right)\left(x^{2}+y^{2}\right)\left(x^{4}+y^{4}\right)$$

Solution Steps

Rewrite x^{8}-y^{8} as \left(x^{4}\right)^{2}-\left(y^{4}\right)^{2}. The difference of squares can be factored using the rule: a^{2}-b^{2}=\left(a-b\right)\left(a+b\right).

$$\left(x^{4}-y^{4}\right)\left(x^{4}+y^{4}\right)$$

Consider x^{4}-y^{4}. Rewrite x^{4}-y^{4} as \left(x^{2}\right)^{2}-\left(y^{2}\right)^{2}. The difference of squares can be factored using the rule: a^{2}-b^{2}=\left(a-b\right)\left(a+b\right).

$$\left(x^{2}-y^{2}\right)\left(x^{2}+y^{2}\right)$$

Consider x^{2}-y^{2}. The difference of squares can be factored using the rule: a^{2}-b^{2}=\left(a-b\right)\left(a+b\right).

$$\left(x-y\right)\left(x+y\right)$$

Rewrite the complete factored expression.

$$\left(x-y\right)\left(x+y\right)\left(x^{2}+y^{2}\right)\left(x^{4}+y^{4}\right)$$

Evaluate

$$x^{8}-y^{8}$$