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Sometimes you'll come across polynomials that match a particular pattern.

HINT: Memorize these commonly occurring factoring formulas

Perfect square binomials:

(a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²

(a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b²

Difference of two perfect squares:

(a - b)(a + b) = a² - b²

Sum of two perfect cubes:

a³ + b³ = (a + b)(a² - ab + b²)

Difference of two perfect cubes:

a³ - b³ = (a - b)(a² + ab + b²)

Notice that the formulas for the perfect cubes are almost the same, but the signs are different. You can use the SOAP mnemonic to remember the signs.

S = The first sign is always the SAME as the sign between the 2 cubes

O = The second sign is always the OPPOSITE as the sign between the 2 cubes

AP = The last sign is ALWAYS POSITIVE