Question

Factoring: (a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2

I got (a+b-a-b)(a+b+a-b) but... then what?

(0)(2a)=0???

Answer 1

the first factor needs revision :
it should be (a+b-a+b)
check it....

Answer 2

well i would first write it out like this:
\[(a+b)(a+b)-(a-b)(a-b)\]

do you see why that's correct instead of what you first wrote?

Answer 3

(0)(2a)=0 is true

Answer 4

@hartnn I don't understand that... its (A-B)(A+B), right? So if A is (a+b) and B is (a-b) , the first factor should be (a+b-a-b) . If that's wrong, could you explain that to me?

@agentc0re Could you explain that?

Answer 5

@85295james can you tell me why?

Answer 6

A-B = (a+b)-(a-b) = (a+b -a- (-b) ) = (a+b-a+b)

Answer 7

Ah. Thank you, that makes more sense...

Answer 8

welcome :)

Answer 9

0 X anyting is O lol

Answer 10

i know:)

Answer 11

so did u finally get 4ab as your answer ??

Answer 12

Yep. Thanks everyone!

Answer 13

your welcome