which of the following is a factor of this equation: 4-(x + Y)^2

-(x + y)^2
x + y
2 - x + y
2 + x + y
4 + x + Y

Question

which of the following is a factor of this equation: 4-(x + Y)^2

-(x + y)^2
x + y
2 - x + y
2 + x + y
4 + x + Y

anonymous · Answer

You need to be careful with your brackets...

anonymous · Answer

$$4-(x+y)^2=(2-(x+y))(2+(x+y))$$

anonymous · Answer

Difference of two squares where one of your squares is 4, the other is (x+y)^2

anonymous · Answer

ohhhh i see, it's a multiple choice and i just couldn't figure out where they were getting the right answer

anonymous · Answer

so the correcy answer is 2 - x + y, why can't it be 2 + x + Y based on what you said?

anonymous · Answer

It goes back to what I was saying about the brackets.  You have to do some rearranging and put it in the appropriate form.  What you could do is just expand out the factors that I gave you and then match them up.  So$$(2-(x+y))(2+(x+y))=(2-x-y)(2+x+y)$$

anonymous · Answer

When you look at your list, you only have 2 + x + y available to you.

anonymous · Answer

oh, because of the negative sign, that where the bracket comes into play. it makes sense now, thank you very much

anonymous · Answer

no worries.  fan me if you haven't :) points hungry

anonymous · Answer

will do...first time on the site, how do i fan you?

anonymous · Answer

you just check a link that says "Become a fan" and leave it

anonymous · Answer

it's next to my name...and it's blue