Factor the difference of two squares. A^2-121

Question

Factor the difference of two squares of a^2-121

Answer 1

The goal of this problem is to get it into the format:

 

(a²-b²)=(a+b)(a-b)

 

(a²-121)=(a²-11²)=(a+11)(a-11)

 

If you expand that out, you can see that it is the start to your question.

Answer 2

Hi Hailey;

a²-121

(a)(a)=a²

(11)(11)=121

Therefore...

(a+11)(a-11)

Let's FOIL...

FIRST...(a)(a)=a²

OUTER...(a)(-11)=-11a

INNER...(11)(a)=11a

LAST...(11)(-11)=-121

a²-11a+11a-121

a²-121