Question

Factor completely x2 − 49.

(x − 7)(x − 7)
(x + 7)(x − 7)
(x + 7)(x + 7)
Prime

Answer 1

(x + 7)(x − 7) should be your final result

Answer 2

The answer is (x + 7)(x − 7).

Explanation:

Given the expression

`x^2-49`

we have to factorize the above expression completely.

Given expression is

`x^2-49=x^2-7^2` → (1)

By the identity
`a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)`

Put a=x and b=7, we get

`x^2-7^2=(x+7)(x-7)`

Eq (1) can be written as

`x^2-49=(x+7)(x-7)`

∴ Option 2 is correct.