Which version of Axiom are you using?   
      
   On a default install of Debian, Axiom is version August 2014,   
   and:   
      
   (1) -> numberOfFactors(factor(x^2-3))   
      
      (1)  1   
                                                           Type: PositiveInteger   
   (2) -> numberOfFactors(factor(x^2-1))   
      
      (2)  2   
                                                           Type: PositiveInteger   
   (3) -> numberOfFactors(factor(x^2))   
      
      (3)  1   
                                                           Type: PositiveInteger   
   (4) -> solve(x^2)   
      
      (4)  [x= 0]   
                             Type: List(Equation(Fraction(Polynomial(Integer))))   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)