Understanding the Product of a Sum and Difference

What is the product of (a + b) and (a - b) called?

• Sum and difference

• Product of squares

• Difference of squares

• Sum of squares

In the distribution method, what is the result of multiplying a by a?

• a^2

• 2a

• a + a

• a - a

What happens to the terms ab and -ab in the distribution method?

• They add up to 2ab

• They cancel each other out

• They multiply to ab^2

• They remain unchanged

What is the shortcut formula for the product of a sum and difference?

• 2a - 2b

• a^2 + 2ab + b^2

• a^2 - b^2

• a^2 + b^2

Using the shortcut method, what is the result of (x + 9)(x - 9)?

• x^2 - 81

• x^2 + 81

• x^2 + 18x + 81

• x^2 - 18x + 81