document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=147452>Question 147452</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9780395977224/algebrahomeworkh>algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> It asks to factor the following. a^2-9. I had a difficult time with this one. I would really appreciate the help! </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #107819 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=107819\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given expression\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%29%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%29%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%29%5E2-%283%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%29%5E2-%283%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Rewrite <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > as <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now use the difference of squares. Remember, the difference of squares formula is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A%5E2-B%5E2=%28A%2BB%29%28A-B%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A%5E2-B%5E2=%28A%2BB%29%28A-B%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > where in this case <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=B=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"B=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2-9=%28a%2B3%29%28a-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2-9=%28a%2B3%29%28a-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Plug in <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A=a ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A=a\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=B=3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"B=3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the expression\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2-9 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2-9\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "factors to\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28a%2B3%29%28a-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28a%2B3%29%28a-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Notice that if you foil the factored expression, you get the original expression. This verifies our answer. </SPAN>\n" );
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