document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1062328>Question 1062328</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\">  How should I completely factor this expression?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "      144-9p^2\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "    Thanks </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #677201 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math_helper><B>math_helper(2461)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=math_helper><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=math_helper><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=677201\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Notice that 144 is a perfect square (12*12)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and that 9p^2 is also a perfect square ((3p)(3p))...\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "When you have the form <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+a%5E2-b%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+a%5E2-b%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (i.e. the difference between two squares) you can factor it to          <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%28a%2Bb%29%28a-b%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%28a%2Bb%29%28a-b%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  (I encourage you to multiply (a+b)(a-b) out for yourself to see that you indeed get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=a%5E2-b%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"a%5E2-b%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If I let a=12 and b=3p:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+%2812-3p%29%2812%2B3p%29+=+144-9p%5E2+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+%2812-3p%29%2812%2B3p%29+=+144-9p%5E2+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Depending on how far you want to take it, a \"3\" can be factored out from each of the above factors:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "  = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+3%2A3%2A%284-p%29%284%2Bp%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+3%2A3%2A%284-p%29%284%2Bp%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=+9%2A%284-p%29%284%2Bp%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"+9%2A%284-p%29%284%2Bp%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  </SPAN>\n" );
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