Need help factoring a few denominators. (Link to screenshot below)

Question

noseboy908 · Answer

tkhunny · Answer

You should not be struggling with the application of the Distributive Property.

a(b+c) = ab + ac

With only two terms, this is very commonly the case.

x^2 + 3x = x(x+3) -- Done.

You will have to memorize a few patterns.  One of the most important is a "Difference of Squared"

(a^2 - b^2) = (a+b)(a-b)

That is all you need for those denominators.

noseboy908 · Answer

How do those apply to the first denominator? It falls under neither category, as I can understand what you're saying.

freckles · Answer

difference of squares is the suggestion he made for the first denominator

freckles · Answer

$$x^2-4 \text{ notice this can be written as } x^2-2^2$$
try to use the last formula he wrote to factor this

noseboy908 · Answer

Ah, yes, so it'd become (x-2)(x+2).

freckles · Answer

correct

noseboy908 · Answer

Alright then, thank you @freckles and @tkhunny.