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43 votes
43 votes
Explain why this is wrong:

(Student's Solution): "Factor the polynomial"
y^2-6y+9=y^2-2(y)(3)+3^2 = (y-3)(y+3)
Note: Please help, I have been working on this for like 4 days im so tired.

User RushDroid
by
2.6k points

1 Answer

23 votes
23 votes

Answer:

See below.

Explanation:

y^2 - 6y + 9 can be changed correctly into y^2 - 2(y)(3) + 3^2.

Up to here, it's correct.

The right side above shows a polynomial that is the square of a binomial.

It factors into (y - 3)^2.

The correct factorization is (y - 3)^2.

The incorrect factorization of the student's solution is the product of a sum and difference.

The product of a sum and a difference is the correct factorization for a difference of squares.

For example, y^2 - 9 is the same as y^2 - 3^2 and is a difference of squares.

It factors into (y + 3)(y - 3), a product of a sum and a difference.

User Taylorjonl
by
2.6k points
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