Help with Factoring Please!!!! =]?

Question

When you are are factoring, how can you tell if the polynomial is prime? I don't know what that means.For examble in my book it says:

(x²-64) is prime. But can't you factor it as (x+8)(x-8) ?

By the way, even if this is wrong. I'd still like to know what a prime one would be. Thank You!

=]

Answer 1

(x²-64) is factored as (x+8)(x-8), its not prime because it can be factored.  (x+8)(x-8) is x²+8x-8x-64, the 8x cancels out.

"A linear polynomial, ax - b, where a  and b have no common factor, cannot be factored over the integers, that is, it is "prime"."

its basically a polynomial that cannot be factored, i.e; no common factors

my advice is try to factor them and if you can't, assume it is prime. chances are its either prime, or you just couldn't see that answer

Answer 2

yeah I don't think x^2 - 64 is prime, I think x^2 + 64 is prime

Prime means it can't be factored