Factoring Difference of

Two Squares

Perlita B. De Castro
Math 8
College of Our Lady of Mercy of Pulilan Foundation, Inc.
S.Y. 2023-2024
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Attendance
 Factoring Difference of Two Squares
Objectives
The learners are expected to:
To factor completely the difference of two
squares.
To solve word problems involving factors
of polynomials.
Factoring Difference of Two Squares
Characteristics of a difference of two squares:
1. It is a binomial.
2. The operation involved is subtraction.
2. The two terms are perfect squares.
Factoring Difference of Two Squares

Formula:

x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)
Familiarize
Chart of Perfect Squares 1 to 15
12 = 1 62 = 36 112 = 121

22 = 4 72 = 49 122 = 144

32 = 9 82 = 64 132 = 169

42 = 16 92 = 81 142 = 196

52 = 25 102 = 100 152 = 225

Example

√x6 = x3

√x8y2 = x4y
√a10b6c4 = a5b3c2
Steps in Factoring Difference of Two Squares
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Find the square Find the square Combine the answers

roots of the roots of the literal in step 1 and 2 by
numerical coefficients. using the formula:
coefficients. x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)
 Example Find the factors of 36a4 - 16b2.
Solution:
Step 1: Find the square roots of the numerical coefficients.

√36 = 6 ; √16 = 4
Step 2: Find the square roots of the literal coefficients.

√a4 = a2 ; √b2 = b
Step 3: Combine the answers in steps 1 and 2 by using the formula :
x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)

36a4 - 16b2 = (6a2 + 4b) (6a2 - 4b)

Answer: The factors are (6a2 + 4b) and (6a2 - 4b)
 Example Find the factors of 81a6b8c2 -
Solution:
121a4b6c4 .
Step 1: Find the square roots of the numerical coefficients.

√81 = 9 ; √121 = 11
Step 2: Find the square roots of the literal coefficients.

√a6b8c2 = a3b4c ; √a4b6c4 = a2b3c2

Step 3: Combine the answers in steps 1 and 2 by using the formula :
x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)

81a6b8c2 - 121a4b6c4 = (9a3b4c + 11a2b3c2 ) (9a3b4c - 11a2b3c2)

Answer:
The factors are (9a3b4c + 11a2b3c2 ) and (9a3b4c - 11a2b3c2).
 Example Find the factors of 1 - 1 .
25m4 49n6
Solution:

Step 1: Find the square roots of the numerical coefficients.

√1/25 = 1/5 ; √1/49 = 1/7

Step 2: Find the square roots of the literal coefficients.

√m4 = m2 ; √n6 = n3
 Example Find the factors of 1 - 1 .
25m4 49n6
Solution:

Step 3: Combine the answers in steps 1 and 2 by using the formula :

x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)

1 - 1 = 1 + 1 1 - 1 .
25m4 49n6 5m2 7n3 5m2 7n3
 Example Find the factors of 1 - 1 .
25m4 49n6
Answer:
1 1 1 1
The factors are (------ + ------ ) and (------- - ------)
5m2 7n3 5m2 7n3
 Example 4 6 4 9 4 2
Find the factors of -- a b - --- a b .
25 49
Solution:

Step 1: Find the square roots of the numerical coefficients.

√4/25 = 2/5 ; √9/49 = 3/7

Step 2: Find the square roots of the literal coefficients.

√a6b4 = a3b2 ; √a4b2 = a2b

 Example 4 6 4 9 4 2
Find the factors of -- a b - --- a b .
25 49
Solution:
Step 3: Combine the answers in steps 1 and 2 by using the formula :
x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)

4 9 2 3 2 3
--- a6b4 - --- a4b2 = (--- a3b2 + --- a2b) (--- a3b2 - --- a2b)
25 49 5 7 5 7

Answer:
2 3 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2
The factors are (---a b + ---a b) and (---a b - ---a b).
5 7 5 7
 Key Points to Remember

To factor the difference of two squares, use

the formula:
x2 - y2 = (x + y) (x - y)
Thought for the Week
"Victory is remembered for at most two decades;
an act of good sportsmanship is remembered
for a lifetime."
- Simon Nguyen
Thank You!