Factoring - Difference of Squares

What is a Perfect Square

What numbers are Perfect
Squares?
Squares Perfect Squares
2
1 1 1 x 2
2 4
2 4 4
2
9 x
3 9 16
25 6
2
4  16 36 x
49 8
2
5  25 64 x
2 81
6  36 100 10
x
Factoring: Difference of Squares
Count the number of terms. Is it a
binomial?
Is the first term a perfect square?
Is the last term a perfect square?
Is it, or could it be, a subtraction of two
perfect squares?
x2 – 9 = (x + 3)(x – 3)
The sum of squares will not factor a2+b2
Using FOIL we find the product
of two binomials.

( x  5)( x  5)
2
 x  5 x  5 x  25
2
 x  25
Rewrite the polynomial as the
product of a sum and a difference.

x  25  ( x  5)( x  5)
2
 Conditions for
Difference of Squares
2
x  36
Must be a binomial with subtraction.
First term must be a perfect square.
(x)(x) = x2
Second term must be a perfect
square (6)(6) = 36

x  6 x  6 
 Check for GCF.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove the GCF
before it can be factored more completely.
2 2
5 x  45 y

5 x 9y2 2

5x  3 y x  3 y 
Removing a GCF of -1.
In some cases removing a GCF of negative one
will result in the difference of squares.
2
 x  16
 2
 1 x  16 
 1x  4 x  4 
 Difference of Squares

4 x  25  2 x  52 x  5
2

2 x  8  2x You
2 2
4 Try
2x  2 x  2 
b  100  1 b  100
2 2

1st. not a perfect square.

No GCF. PRIME!
y  16   y  4 y  4
2
Factoring - Difference of Squares