Factoring a Difference of Squares

Front

What is the difference of squares formula?

Back

a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)

Front

Factor x² - 25.

Back

(x + 5)(x - 5)

Front

Factor 4x² - 16.

Back

4(x - 2)(x + 2)

Front

Factor x² - 16.

Back

(x + 4)(x - 4)

Front

Factor 4x² - 9.

Back

(2x - 3)(2x + 3)

Front

What is a perfect square trinomial?

Back

An expression of the form a² ± 2ab + b², which factors to (a ± b)².

Front

Factor y² - 196.

Back

(y + 14)(y - 14)

Front

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

Back

Identify the two perfect squares in the expression.

Front

Factor x² - 49.

Back

(x + 7)(x - 7)

Front

What does it mean to factor completely?

Back

To express an expression as a product of its simplest factors.