Factoring the Difference of Squares

Front

What is the difference of squares formula?

Back

The difference of squares formula states that a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b).

Front

How do you identify a difference of squares expression?

Back

An expression is a difference of squares if it can be written in the form a^2 - b^2, where both a and b are perfect squares.

Front

Factor the expression 25x^2 - 81.

Back

(5x + 9)(5x - 9)

Front

Factor the expression 4x^2 - 9.

Back

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

Front

Factor the expression 9x^2 - 49y^2.

Back

(3x + 7y)(3x - 7y)

Front

Which expression cannot be factored using the difference of squares?

Back

36x^2 - 54 cannot be factored using the difference of squares.

Front

Factor the expression 64x^2 - 49y^2.

Back

(8x + 7y)(8x - 7y)

Front

What are perfect squares?

Back

Perfect squares are numbers that can be expressed as the square of an integer, such as 1, 4, 9, 16, etc.

Front

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

Back

The first step is to identify the two perfect squares in the expression.

Front

Can the expression x^2 - 16 be factored? If so, how?

Back

Yes, it can be factored as (x + 4)(x - 4).