Polynomials

Question

multiply or divide the polynomial 

[a+(b+1)][a-(b+1)]

Answer 1

The difference of squares formula is (a-x)*(a+x) = (a²-x²).

Substituting (b+1) for x yields [a+(b+1)][a-(b+1)] = (a²-(b+1)²) = (a²-b²-2b-1)