Factoring the Difference of Squares

What is the first step you should take when asked to factor an expression?

• Factor out the smallest term

• Factor out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

• Factor out the largest term

• Factor out the constant term

What does the instruction 'factor completely' imply?

• Factor the expression once

• Factor the expression as many times as possible

• Factor only the constants

• Factor only the variables

What is the factoring pattern for a difference of squares?

• a^2 + b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)

• a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)

• a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a - b)

• a^2 + b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)

What is the factored form of x^2 - 16?

• (x - 4)(x - 4)

• (x - 4)(x + 4)

• (x + 4)(x + 4)

• (x + 4)(x - 4)

What is the factored form of 4x^2 - 9y^2?

• (4x - 9y)(4x + 9y)

• (4x + 9y)(4x - 9y)

• (2x - 3y)(2x - 3y)

• (2x + 3y)(2x - 3y)

What should you do if you encounter a sum of squares like y^2 + 121?

• Factor it as (y - 11)(y - 11)

• Leave it as it is because it is not factorable

• Factor it as (y + 11)(y - 11)

• Factor it as (y + 11)(y + 11)

What is the GCF of 50x^3 - 98x?

• 2x

• 50x

• 98x

• x

What is the factored form of 50x^3 - 98x after factoring out the GCF?

• 2x(25x^2 + 49)

• 50x(25x^2 + 49)

• 50x(25x^2 - 49)

• 2x(25x^2 - 49)

What is the factored form of 16x^4 - 81?

• (4x^2 + 9)(4x^2 - 9)

• (4x^2 - 9)(4x^2 + 9)

• (4x^2 - 9)(4x^2 - 9)

• (4x^2 + 9)(4x^2 + 9)

How can you rewrite 4 - n^2 to factor it with the variable first?

• 4 + n^2

• n^2 - 4

• -n^2 + 4

• -4 + n^2