FACTORIZATION

Factoring using the Difference of Two Squares

FACTORING USING THE
DIFFERENCE OF TWO
SQUARES
Difference of Two Squares

Another shortcut for factoring a trinomial is when we

want to factor the difference of two squares.
a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)
A binomial is the difference of two square if
1.both terms are squares and
2.the signs of the terms are different.

9x2 – 25y2
– c4 + d4
Difference of Two Squares

Example
Factor the polynomial x2 – 9.
The first term is a square and the last term, 9, can be
written as 32. The signs of each term are different, so
we have the difference of two squares
Therefore x2 – 9 = (x – 3)(x + 3).
Note: You can use FOIL method to verify that the
factorization for the polynomial is accurate.
Exercises

■ (x)2 – (2)2
■ x2 – 25
■ x2 – y 2
■ 49 – x2