Question

Write the expression as a product:

64–(b+1)^2

Answer 1

(9 + b)(7 - b)

Explanation:

Factoring by the difference of squares method, that is

a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

Note that 64 - (b + 1)² ← is a difference of squares, that is

64 - (b + 1)² = 8² - (b + 1)²

with a = 8 and b = b + 1, hence

64 - (a + b)² = (8 + b + 1)(8 - (b + 1)) = (9 + b)(7 - b)