Since both terms are perfect cubes, factor using the difference of cubes formula, a 3 − b 3 = ( a − b ) ( a 2 + a b + b 2 ) a 3 - b 3 = ( a - b ) ( a 2 + a b + b 2 ) where a = x 2 a = x 2 and b = y b = y . ( x 2 − y ) ( ( x 2 ) 2 + x 2 y + y 2 ) ( x 2 - y ) ( ( x 2 ) 2 + x 2 y + y 2 ) Multiply the exponents in ( x 2 ) 2 ( x 2 ) 2 .