Practice Factoring Difference of Squares in Math
Use these practice problems to test your method after reviewing the concept explanation and worked examples.
Quick Recap
Recognizing and factoring expressions of the form a^2 - b^2 into the product (a + b)(a - b).
When you multiply (a + b)(a - b), the middle terms cancel: a^2 - ab + ab - b^2 = a^2 - b^2. So any time you see a perfect square minus a perfect square, you can instantly factor it. Think of it as a rectangle whose area is the difference of two square areas.
Example 1
easyFactor x^2 - 49.
Example 2
mediumFactor 16x^2 - 25y^2.
Example 3
easyFactor x^2 - 1.
Example 4
hardFactor x^4 - 81 completely.