Question

how do you factor :
a^2-2ab+b^2

Answer 1

what times what = a^2?
and what times what = b^2?

Answer 2

axa=a^2
bxb=b^2
but what about the -2ab how do i get thet?

Answer 3

when you factor a polynomial, and that's what that is, you get something like:
(a + b) (c + d) if you are lucky and this expands to
ac+ ad +bc + bd

Answer 4

so what is (a - b) (a - b) ?

Answer 5

ok now i got it I forgot that when you add -ab-ab= -2ab... because their two of them . thanks !

Answer 6

that's all there is to it