Alegebra 2?

Question

how do i factor a problem like this: 36x²y²-1?

Answer 1

this is known as a difference of squares.

 

In general it looks like this:   a² - b²

 

Every difference of squares a² - b² can be factored into (a + b)(a - b)

 

So we need to find the value of a and the value of b.

 

Compare 36x²y² - 1 to a² - b²

 

36x²y² is the a²

 

1 is the b²

 

Can you determine a and b from here and then write the factors?

 

 

Answer 2

Nick,

 

I am assuming this is 36x²y² - 1 = 0, then add 1 to both sides and divide both sides by 36 to get:

 

x²y² = 1/36

 

we can re write 36 = 4·9 = 2²·3²

 

so:  x²y² = 1/(2²·3²)

 

so x = 1/2 and y = 1/3 or vice versa.

Answer 3

Nick, remember that x² - y² = (x-y)(x+y).

 

What times itself gives us 36x²y² and what times itself gives us 1?

 

Hope this helps.