SOLUTION: how do you factor x squared minus 196?

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Question 471012: how do you factor x squared minus 196?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

x%5E2-196 Start with the given expression.


%28x%29%5E2-196 Rewrite x%5E2 as %28x%29%5E2.


%28x%29%5E2-%2814%29%5E2 Rewrite 196 as %2814%29%5E2.


Notice how we have a difference of squares A%5E2-B%5E2 where in this case A=x and B=14.


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


A%5E2-B%5E2=%28A%2BB%29%28A-B%29 Start with the difference of squares formula.


%28x%29%5E2-%2814%29%5E2=%28x%2B14%29%28x-14%29 Plug in A=x and B=14.


So this shows us that x%5E2-196 factors to %28x%2B14%29%28x-14%29.


In other words x%5E2-196=%28x%2B14%29%28x-14%29.