<PRE><B>Question 360131</B>
How would you work an algebra problem like this:

(-6 + -3)^2 - (-3 + 4)^2


(-6 + -3)^2
this can be solved 2 ways:
adding what is in the parenthesis then squaring: (-9)^2 = 81
or
using FOIL (First Outer Inner Last), if the numbers were a variable and a constant (such as x - 3 or a + 4), would also use this method (you would then need to solve for the variable however):
(-6 + -3)(-6 + -3) = -6 * -6 + 2(-3 * -6) + -3 * -3
36 + 36 + 9 = 72 + 9 = 81


(-3 + 4)^2
(1)^2 = 1
or
(-3 + 4)(-3 + 4) = 9 + 2(4 * -3) + 16 = 9 - 24 + 16 = -15 + 16 = 1


(-6 + -3)^2 - (-3 + 4)^2 = 81 - 1 = 80


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