Simplify y^3 - 64 / y - 4

[LMande]

y^3 - 64 / y-4

My guess is that it's simplified? Am I right or wrong?

[stapel]

y^3 - 64 / y-4
The above means this:

. . . . .\L y^3 \,-\,\frac{64}{y} \,-\, 4

Is this what you meant? Or did you mean one of the following:

. . . . .\L y^3 \,-\, \frac{64}{y\,-\,4}

. . . . .\L \frac{y^3\,-\,64}{y\,-\,4}

...or something else?

Thank you.

Eliz.

[skeeter]

please use proper grouping symbols ...
(y^3 - 64)/(y - 4)

y^3 - 64 = y^3 - 4^3, is the difference between two cubes ... which does factor.

fyi ... the factoring pattern is a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2)

also, the sum of two cubes is also factorable ...
a^3 + b^3 = (a + b)(a^2 - ab + b^2)

place these two algebra factoring facts into your algebra "toolbox" ... you will see them again.

[LMande]

Okay... so I'm REALLY lost!

Eliz... it is the last one that you listed that's my question. I'm going to attempt to write it again (with brackets) and I hope it makes sense.

(y^3 - 64) / (y-4)

I hope that makes more sense.

[pka]

\L
y^3 - 64 = \left( {y - 4} \right)\left( {y^2 + 4y + 16} \right)