SOLUTION: factor each polynomial completely b^2-256

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Question 191464: factor each polynomial completely
b^2-256
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

b%5E2-256 Start with the given expression.


%28b%29%5E2-256 Rewrite b%5E2 as %28b%29%5E2.


%28b%29%5E2-%2816%29%5E2 Rewrite 256 as %2816%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:


%28b%2B16%29%28b-16%29 Factor the expression using the difference of squares.


So b%5E2-256 factors to %28b%2B16%29%28b-16%29.


In other words b%5E2-256=%28b%2B16%29%28b-16%29.