Question

Find the product. Simplify your an (b+4)(b-4)

Answer 1

b² - 16

Explanation:

Our task is to find the product of the two binomials.

`\sf{(b+4)(b-4)}`

We'll use FOIL (First, outer, inner, last).

The first terms give us
`\sf{b*b=b^2}`.

The outer terms give us
`\sf{-4b}`.

The inner terms give us
`\sf{4*b=4b}`.

The last terms give us
`\sf{4*(-4)=-16}`.

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We have:
`\sf{b^2-4b+4b-16}`

Combine like terms:
`\sf{b^2-16}`

Answer 2

b² - 16

Explanation:

(b + 4)(b - 4)

each term in the second factor is multiplied by each term in the first factor

= b(b - 4) + 4(b - 4) ← distribute parenthesis

= b² - 4b + 4b - 16 ← collect like terms

= b² - 16 ← which is a difference of squares