Factor completely: x^2 − 8x + 16

(x + 4)(x + 4)

(x − 4)(x − 4)

(x + 4)(x − 4)

(x − 2)(x − 8)

It's either the first, or the third one, right @Mertsj ?

Question

Factor completely: x^2 − 8x + 16

(x + 4)(x + 4)

(x − 4)(x − 4)

(x + 4)(x − 4)

(x − 2)(x − 8) 

It's either the first, or the third one, right @Mertsj ?

anonymous · Answer

I'm leaning towards the third one.

mertsj · Answer

No.  You need to multiply each choice and see which one is equal to x^2-8x+16

anonymous · Answer

Okay.

anonymous · Answer

Okay, so it's definately not the last one.

mertsj · Answer

True enough.

anonymous · Answer

Not the third one.

mertsj · Answer

nope

skullpatrol · Answer

Have you heard of the FOIL method of multiplying binomials?

anonymous · Answer

I prefer to multiply the answers. :P

anonymous · Answer

It's not the first one @Mertsj So it's the second one, right?

skullpatrol · Answer

Why guess at the answer when you can use  the FOIL method of multiplying binomials and be sure?

anonymous · Answer

I'm not guessing. I'm multiplying the answers to see what adds up to the problem in the question.

skullpatrol · Answer

Yes, and what you are doing is called FOIL :)

anonymous · Answer

Oh, okay.