Example Question 1
Example corresponding to question 1 in algebra_4.
Example 1
$x^2-16$ is equivalent to
- $(x-4)^2$
- $(x-4)(x+4)$
- $(x-16)(x+16)$
- $(x+4)^2$
- $(x-1)(x+16)$
Solution
- From the 5 possible answers, we are asked to factor the given expression which could be written as the difference of two squares as follows: $x^2-16 = x^2-4^2$
- We now use the factoring formula for the difference of two squares (a^2 - b^2) = (a - b)(a + b) to our expression as follows:
$x^2-16 = x^2-4^2 = (x - 4)(x+4)$
Answer B