Question

would the answer of (a − b)(a − b) be a^2 - ab^2 - b^2

Answer 1

FOIL

First: a*a = a^2

Outside = -ab

Inside = -ab

Last = -b(-b) = +b^2

What do we do with the -ab and the -ab?

Answer 2

Tkink -x + -x = -2x

Answer 3

I know to combine itt

Answer 4

@chungerforever remember when we had \(5x+5x=10x\)? don't change the exponents here either

Answer 5

\(-ab-ab=?\)

Answer 6

oh minus! so just ab?

Answer 7

\(-10-10=?\)

Answer 8

oh I understand, so the answer is just a^2 - b^2?

Answer 9

hold the phone, careful arithmetic
\(-10-10=?\)

Answer 10

hint, it is not 0

Answer 11

I'm sorry I have no idea, I'm not good at algebra ):

Answer 12

-10?

Answer 13

don't fret, we will work it out, but i was asking an arithmetic question
\(-10-10=-20\)

Answer 14

\(-100-100=?\)

Answer 15

-200?

Answer 16

yes that is it !

Answer 17

\(-7-7=?\)

Answer 18

-14

Answer 19

ok good now we can move on to variables

Answer 20

\[-10-10=-20\]
\[-100-100=-200\]
\[-7-7=-14\]
\[-12-12=-24\] and so on
how about \[-x-x\]? well this must be the same as the others, namely
\[-x-x=-2x\]

Answer 21

so -2ab?

Answer 22

notice that the exponent does not change
spend $20, spend another $20 you have spent \(2\times 20=40\)
yes you have it !

Answer 23

so "final answer" for \((a-b)(a-b)\) is ??

Answer 24

a^2 - 2ab - b^2?

Answer 25

yes that is it!

Answer 26

thank you so much! and sorry I was taking a while to reply. But thanks again I appreciate it (:

Answer 27

yw
good work, hope you are understanding a bit more about combining like terms