Factoring Difference of Squares and Perfect Square Trinomials

Front

What is the difference of squares?

Back

The difference of squares is a special factoring technique that applies to expressions of the form a² - b², which can be factored as (a + b)(a - b).

Front

Factor the expression: 16x² - 25

Back

(4x + 5)(4x - 5)

Front

What is a perfect square trinomial?

Back

A perfect square trinomial is an expression that can be factored into the square of a binomial, typically in the form a² + 2ab + b² = (a + b)².

Front

Factor the expression: x² + 6x + 9

Back

(x + 3)²

Front

What is the formula for factoring a difference of squares?

Back

The formula is a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b).

Front

Factor the expression: 49y² - 36

Back

(7y + 6)(7y - 6)

Front

How do you identify a perfect square trinomial?

Back

A trinomial is a perfect square if the first and last terms are perfect squares and the middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms.

Front

Factor the expression: 4x² + 12x + 9

Back

(2x + 3)²

Front

What is the first step in factoring a difference of squares?

Back

Identify if the expression can be written in the form a² - b².

Front

Factor the expression: x² - 16

Back

(x + 4)(x - 4)