SOLUTION: Please help Factor completely: 36x^-4y^2

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Question 164440: Please help
Factor completely:
36x^-4y^2
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, padmameesala:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

36x%5E2-4y%5E2 Start with the given expression.


%286x%29%5E2-4y%5E2 Rewrite 36x%5E2 as %286x%29%5E2.


%286x%29%5E2-%282y%29%5E2 Rewrite 4y%5E2 as %282y%29%5E2.


Notice how we have a difference of squares. So let's use the difference of squares formula A%5E2-B%5E2=%28A%2BB%29%28A-B%29 to factor the expression:


%286x%2B2y%29%286x-2y%29 Factor the expression using the difference of squares.


So 36x%5E2-4y%5E2 factors to %286x%2B2y%29%286x-2y%29.


In other words 36x%5E2-4y%5E2=%286x%2B2y%29%286x-2y%29.

Answer by padmameesala(42) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
36x^-4y^2
=9*4y^2/x^4

=3^2*2^2y^2/x^4
=(2*3y/x^2)^2