Topic Details (Notes format)

How to Factor the Difference of Squares

Subject: Mathematics

Book: Maths Mastery

A difference of squares takes the form a² – b² and factors into (a – b)(a + b). For example, x² – 9 becomes (x – 3)(x + 3). This factoring pattern simplifies advanced algebraic expressions, helps solve polynomial equations quickly, and appears often in geometry proofs or optimization tasks. Recognizing a² – b² is crucial in polynomial manipulation, partial fraction decomposition, and problem-solving across arithmetic, geometry, and calculus contexts, making it a powerful tool in your algebraic toolkit.

Practice Questions

A man rows downstream at 6 km/h and upstream at 4 km/h. What is the speed of the stream?

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If a + b = 10 and ab = 21, what is the value of a^2 + b^2?

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What is the cube of 4?

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If the angles of a triangle are in the ratio 2:3:4, what is the measure of the largest angle?

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If 5x - 2 = 13, what is the value of x?

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If the sum of three consecutive integers is 72, what are the integers?

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If x:y = 2:3 and z:y = 4:3, what is x:z?

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A rectangle has a length of 10 cm and a width of 5 cm. What is the diagonal of the rectangle?

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