Question

When factoring the difference of two squares, what will the signs in the parenthesis be

Answer 1

The signs will be + and -

Explanation:

Required

The signs in the parenthesis of difference of two squares

Let the expression be:

`(x^2 - a^2)`

Expand

`x^2 - a^2 = x^2 -ax + ax - a^2`

Factorize

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

Factor out x - a

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

See that the sign in front of a is + and - in the parentheses