jmc

Question

Factor -16x^4+x^2+2x+1 into two quadratic polynomials with integer coefficients. Submit your answer in the form (ax^2+bx+c)(dx^2+ex+f), with a<d.

Accepted Answer

Note that -16x^4+x^2+2x+1=(x+1)^2-(4x^2)^2=(-4x^2+x+1)(4x^2+x+1), where we have used the difference of squares identity for the second equality.