SOLUTION: How would you factor the expression 4a^2-36b^2?

Question 126345: How would you factor the expression 4a^2-36b^2?
Found 2 solutions by checkley71, bucky:
Answer by checkley71(8403) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
4a^2-36b^2 or (2a+6b)(2a-6b)
Answer by bucky(2189) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The given expression falls under the following factoring rule:
.

.
In the given expression note that X = 2a because when you square both sides you get
.
Also note that Y = 6b because when you square both sides you get
.
Substituting 2a for X and 6b for Y in the factoring rule leads to:
.

.
Then notice on the right side that each of the two factors has 2 as a common factor of the
two terms in parentheses. This means that each factor on the right side can have a 2 factored
from it, and this leads to:
.

.
Multiply the two factors of 2 to get 4 and you have the final answer of:
.

.
If you like, you can then square out the two terms on the left side and you have:
.

.
Hope this helps you understand how to do the problem, and how to use the rule that applies.
.

RELATED QUESTIONS
Completely factor the following expression... (answered by sofiyac)
How do i solve... (answered by stanbon)
Factor completely. 36b^2 - 121 (answered by jim_thompson5910)
{{{12b^4+36b^3-20b^2}}} i really dont get how to factor the polynomial can you help[... (answered by TutorDelphia)
Factor completely: 9a^2 � 36ab +... (answered by nerdybill)
completely factor the expression:... (answered by stanbon)
Simplify: (2a^2�ab�3b^2)/(a^2-36b^2) � (4a+4b)/(8a-48b) note: I believe this is a (answered by Alan3354)
Factor 4a^2-4a +... (answered by mananth)
completely factor the expression 2a^3-128 a. 2(a-4)(a^2+4a+16) b. 2(a^3-64) c. prime... (answered by jim_thompson5910)