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Factor: x^2 - 81

{x}^(2) - 81

2 Answers

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Final answer:

To factor the expression x^2 - 81, we can use the difference of squares formula, which states that a^2 - b^2 is equal to (a + b)(a - b). In this case, a = x and b = 9. Therefore, the expression can be factored as (x + 9)(x - 9).

Step-by-step explanation:

To factor the expression x^2 - 81, we can use the difference of squares formula, which states that a^2 - b^2 is equal to (a + b)(a - b). In this case, a = x and b = 9. Therefore, the expression can be factored as (x + 9)(x - 9).

User Akshaya Shanbhogue
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Answer:
(x - 9)(x + 9)

Explanation:
This is called a difference of two squares, as indicated by the subtraction (-) operation between the two terms. So to factor it, we can square-root both terms of the equation and plug them into the formula for difference of two squares binomials.

This formula is a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)

First we find the square of both terms.
√(x²) = x
√(81) = 9

Now we can plug and play using the above formula were variable x is in the a spot and constant 9 is in the b spot.

x² - 81 = (x + 9)(x - 9), your answer

User Joshua Honig
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