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) #