How do you factor #16p^2-36#?

1 Answer
Mar 20, 2016

4(2p - 3)(2p + 3 )

Explanation:

First 'take out' the common factor of 4.

# 16p^2 - 36 = 4(4p^2 - 9) #

now # 4p^2 - 9" is a difference of squares " #

A difference of squares factors : # a^2 - b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)#

For # 4p^2 - 9 , a = 2p " and " b = 3 #

hence : # 4p^2 - 9 = (2p-3)(2p+3) #

#rArr 16p^2 - 36 = 4(2p-3)(2p+3) #