Factoring the difference of two cubes

Algebra

Statement

The difference of two cubes can be factored as follows.

$$ a^3 - b^3 = (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) $$

Proof

Take $ (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) $ and expand the brackets. Then cancel like terms.

$$ (a - b)(a^2 + ab + b^2) = $$

$$ a^3 + a^2b + ab^2 - a^2b - ab^2 - b^3 = $$

$$ a^3 - b^3 $$