Chapter 5.

7- Factoring
Special Cases

Intermediate Algebra
Friday October 23rd, 2020

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Difference
of Two a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)
Squares
 A binomial is the difference of two
squares if
both terms are squares and
Difference the signs of the terms are
different.
of Two
Squares For example,
9x2 – 25y2 =
 a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

Factor: x2 – 9

Example
 Example a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

2 16
Factor: y 
25

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 Example a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

Factor: 4 x2  1

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 Example a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

2 2
Factor: 36 a  49 b

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 Example a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

2
Factor: 49  x

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 Example a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

3
Factor: 4 x  49 x

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Think G1- 1A,E

and
G2- 1B,E
G3- 1C,E
G4- 1D,E

Share a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)

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Sum or Difference of Two Cubes

a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)

a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)
 Factor x3 + 1

Example

• a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)
• a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)
 Factor y3 – 64

Example

• a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2)
• a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)
Group Practice Activity
Clicker Questions

https://forms.gle/ZMm9Te6Een5RPzHc7

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• What did you learn?
• Is your factoring getting better? If not, what will you do
to get more practice?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OtXYKz-mnrNDv4k
KS7YaT3j8czeiXkOYJBOcHHBgLvc/edit?usp=sharing 15
MyLabsPlus – www.usf.mylabsplus.com

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