Basic Algebra/Factoring/Factoring a^2-b^2 Binomials
Vocabulary
[edit | edit source]Lesson
[edit | edit source]Difference of Squares
Any binomial of the form may be written as . That is
.
Example 1: Factor .
This is clearly seen just take and so that . So
Example 2:: .
Here it is unclear where we can use the difference of squares as 32 is NOT a perfect square. However if we look we see that we can factor out a common factor of 2.
Now we see we can use the difference of two squares to simplify matters take and :
Now we notice that we can use the difference of squares again in the first factor to get:
This is now completely factored.
This is brings us to our next point that is that is NOT FACTORABLE (at least for the purposes of this class).
Example Problems
[edit | edit source]Let a = b
Therefore: a^2 = ab
Therefore: a^2 - b^2 = ab - b^2
Therefore: (a + b)(a - b) = b(a - b)
Now divide both sides by (a - b)
Therefore: a + b = b
But since a = b and substituting b for a
Therefore: b + b = b
Therefore: 2b = b
Now divide both sides by b
Therefore: 2 = 1
QED
This doesn't work because in line 5 both sides of the equation are divided by (a-b). Now, we know a = b and therefore, (a - b) = 0. This means that in line 5, both sides of the equation are divided by 0, which is not allowed. There are many ways that unrealities can be shown, if division by zero is permitted which is why this is not possible.
Practice Problems
[edit | edit source]Use ^
for exponentiation