Question

General factoring strategy to factor the polynomial x^2+10xy+25y^2-1

Answer 1

You can do this:

\[\large{x^2 + 2*x*(5y) + (5y)^2 - 1}\]

Can you write x^2 + 2*x*(5y) + (5y)^2 as some square ?

Answer 2

Remember :

\[\large{a^2 + 2*a*b + b^2 = (a+b)^2}\]

Answer 3

Use the difference of squares formula

\(a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)\)

I can walk you through the steps if you like.