SOLUTION: Use the difference of two squares theorem to find the solution to the equations b squared = 18 and z squared = 13

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Question 203415: Use the difference of two squares theorem to find the solution to the equations b squared = 18 and z squared = 13
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Difference of two squares: a%5E2+-+b%5E2+=+%28a+%2B+b%29%28a+-+b%29
b%5E2+=+18
First let's get a difference by subtracting 18 from both sides:
b%5E2+-+18+=+0
Now we need to write this as a difference of squares. b^2 is already a square. Next we need to write 18 as a square. What squared is 18? Answer: sqrt%2818%29. Now we have:
b%5E2+-+%28sqrt%2818%29%29%5E2+=+0
which is a difference of squares. We can rewrite this as:
%28b+%2B+sqrt%2818%29%29%28b+-+sqrt%2818%29%29+=+0
In order for this (or any) product to be zero, one of the factors must be zero (Zero Product Property). So
b+%2B+sqrt%2818%29+=+0 or b+-+sqrt%2818%29+=+0
Solving these we get:
b+=+-sqrt%2818%29 or b+=+sqrt%2818%29
We can simplify these square roots.
sqrt%2818%29+=+sqrt%289%2A2%29+=+sqrt%289%29%2Asqrt%282%29+=+3sqrt%282%29
So the simplified answers:
b+=+-3sqrt%282%29 or b+=+3sqrt%282%29

Using the same steps on z%5E2+=+13 we get z+=+sqrt%2813%29 or z+=+-sqrt%2813%29