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Algebra 1
Course: Algebra 1 > Unit 13
Lesson 7: Factoring quadratics with difference of squares- Difference of squares intro
- Factoring quadratics: Difference of squares
- Difference of squares intro
- Factoring difference of squares: leading coefficient ≠ 1
- Factoring difference of squares: analyzing factorization
- Factoring difference of squares: shared factors
- Difference of squares
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Factoring quadratics: Difference of squares
Learn how to factor quadratics that have the "difference of squares" form. For example, write x²-16 as (x+4)(x-4).
Factoring a polynomial involves writing it as a product of two or more polynomials. It reverses the process of polynomial multiplication.
In this article, we'll learn how to use the difference of squares pattern to factor certain polynomials. If you don't know the difference of squares pattern, please check out our video before proceeding.
Intro: Difference of squares pattern
Every polynomial that is a difference of squares can be factored by applying the following formula:
Note that
The polynomial
Now that we understand the pattern, let's use it to factor a few more polynomials.
Example 1: Factoring
Both
Since the two squares are being subtracted, we can see that this polynomial represents a difference of squares. We can use the difference of squares pattern to factor this expression:
In our case,
We can check our work by ensuring the product of these two factors is
Check your understanding
Reflection question
Example 2: Factoring
The leading coefficient does not have to equal to
This is because
A quick multiplication check verifies our answer.
Check your understanding
Challenge problems
Want to join the conversation?
If the question is x^2 + 25 its not factorable? Why?(6 votes)
The difference of squares: (a+b)(a-b). x^2 + 25 is not factorable since you're adding 25, not subtracting. A positive multiplied by a negative is always a negative. If you were to factor it, you would have to use imaginary numbers such as i5. The factors of 25 are 5 and 5 besides 1 and itself. Since the formula: (a-b)(a+b), it uses a positive and negative sign, making the last term always a negative.(23 votes)
How would you factor a "difference of squares" problem WITHOUT using this formula?
What fundamental steps or rules would you follow to do the expanding brackets steps in reverse?
= x^2 − 4
= x^2 −2x +2x −4 #This step does not seem intuitive.
= x(x−2)+2(x−2)
= (x+2)(x−2)
Can you instead factor it by doing something with square roots?(5 votes)
Your work above is correct. Maybe this will make your 1st step more intuitive. When you multiply 2 binomials, you usually get a trinomial (3 terms). With the difference of two squares, we get only a binomial (2 terms). Why does the middle term not exist? It's because it has a coefficient of 0. So, if you forget the pattern, stub in the middle term:
x^2 + 0x - 4
Then factor as usual. You need factors of -4 that add to 0, which leads you to the -2 and +2.
Hope this helps.(16 votes)
i really don't understand factoring AT ALL even after watching the videos so can someone help me because i really suck at math! thank you in advance!(6 votes)
Are you talking about just this video (difference of squares) or about any factoring at all? If it is factoring in general, you have to go through a sequence of factoring to support your learning. So just reaching out says that you are not as bad as you think. If you say all factoring, then we will start with a=1 and go one step at a time.(12 votes)
Everything here is pretty easy, but why can't you factor x^2+25? what exactly prevents sums from working but differences work just fine? The included explanation doesn't explain in much detail(4 votes)
Differences of perfect squares work because the middle term cancels out. (x+5)(x-5x^2-5x+5x-25=x^2-25. The pattern for squaring something like (x+5)^2=x^2+10x+25.(11 votes)
What's the purpose of converting it to this form?(2 votes)
It gives us the solutions to the quadratic directly! If I give you 4x^2 - 9 = 0, you can't really see the solutions. But, if I give you (2x-3)(2x+3) = 0 (which is the factored form), you can easily see that either 2x-3 = 0 or 2x+3 = 0. So, x can be 3/2 or -3/2. So, this form is important to figure the solutions to the quadratic, which would be important in the future lessons.
Another advantage to this form is in limits. Sometimes, a limit of a function can be indeterminate until you factor polynomials like this, which can cancel out terms and give us a finite limit.(11 votes)
Does the order of the signs matter? I have gotten it right when I do (x+y)(x-y). If I did it (x-y)(x+y) would it be wrong?(5 votes)- While it is the same answer, sometimes questions ask for a specific order.(3 votes)
- in the video how did he know what number to divide by ?(4 votes)
- I think he looked for their square roots. Like when he had 25 5*5 = 25 so that's how he figured it out. Unless that's not what you're talking about then I feel embarrassed(4 votes)
- i cannot do this at all(3 votes)
- Do you know your perfect squares? The basis of this video is that if you have a^2-b^2, it factors to (a+b)(a-b). This works because the middle terms, -ab+ab=0.(3 votes)
- factoris 27-3x to the power of 2(2 votes)
- Same as your other question. Factor out the common factor as your first step. Then you will have a difference of 2 squares. Give it a try.(3 votes)
So when you have 25x-4 you have to make the 4 into a 2(2 votes)
Yes, because the square root of 4 is 2. You should also notice the 25x^2. The square root of 25x^2 is 5x.(2 votes)