Factoring a Difference of Squares
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State
A difference of squares factors into conjugate binomials: a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b).
Show
9x² − 16 is (3x)² minus 4², so it factors as (3x + 4)(3x − 4). Multiply back and the middle terms cancel.
Watch for
Both terms must be perfect squares joined by a minus sign.
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- Nothing — this is a starting point.
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