Need help factoring

Hi
I was wondering if anyone could help me with this equation i have, im trying to factor this in my ti calculator and im not seeing the textbook result my book shows. Im told to factor this

1/9*y^2 - 1/6*y*x^2 + 1/16*x^4

the answer the book gives is

(1/3*y - 1/4*x^2)^2

is there anything special i need to do to factor this equation.
The calculator gives me this as the answer

(3*x^2 - 8)^2 / 144

I know if i factor it by hand i can get the proper answer but i have alot of these to do and im not sure what im doing wrong. Ive also tried this in the sage math application and it didnt show the proper form either.


Any help would be appreciated thanks.

When you say the calculator gave you an answer, what do you mean? And also, what type of calculator are you using?

I have a ti92+ and when i put the factor in it like this

factor(1/9*y^2 - 1/6*y*x^2 + 1/16*x^4)

the calculator returns this answer
(3*x^2 - 8)^2 / 144


I think i need to do somthing with the 144 to get the result the book is looking for which is (1/3y - 1/4x^2)^2 for Thanks for the reply. I have an image of the equation and the answer but i cant seem to post the url here.

I'm not sure, considering I haven't gotten to use a 92 yet, but I think it's trying to factor it with only one variable. Does your school allow you to use your 92? Most schools I know ban them because they can do things like that. (factor for you, solve equations, etc.)

Besides, you'll need to learn how to factor on your own. I'm in AP Calculus, and I have to factor much more complex equations almost on a regular basis, and not every test or quiz will allow calculators.

Along with the fact that no computer comes close to matching the processing power of a human brain (or for that matter, a cockroach brain), and do you really want something dumber than you are think for you? Just a little food for thought.

Also, you're a new member (notice, under your name it says "n00b DevH'er"). To prevent spam, they only let members who've so many posts (I think 30) or been a member of the site for so much time post URL links. Once the forum rules declare you to be a contributing member, you can post links, have your own avatar, and change your name from "Contributing Member" to whatever you like (i.e. "The Muffinator" like mine is). I'm no moderator, but I'm pretty sure those are the rules and rewards (well, at least some of them).

Check http://www.ticalc.org
Check programs for your TI calculator under math, algebra
they have several factoring programs that will meet your needs
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hope this helps
falcon

It's better to know how to do it yourself before you get someone or something else to do it for you.

This information should show him how using a TI calculator
http://mathbits.com/Mathbits/TISection/Openpage.htm
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hope this helps
falcon

This will show factoring without use of a calculator
http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/Alg/Factoring.aspx
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hope this helps
falcon