x²-14x+49-y² Factor the first three terms x²-14x+49 as (x-7)(x-7) and then write as (x-7)² (x-7)²-y² That factors as the difference of two squares: [(x-7)-y][(x-7)+y] Remove the inner parentheses: [x-7-y][x-7+y] Change the [] to () and write the letters first in each: (x-y-7)(x+y-7) Edwin