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How do you factor the expression #x^2 - 49#?

1 Answer

Dec 3, 2015

Apply the difference of squares formula to find
#x^2 - 49 = (x+7)(x-7)#

Explanation:

The difference of squares formula states that
#a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a-b)#
(multiply out the right hand side to verify this)

Applying this, we have
#x^2 - 49 = x^2 - 7^2 = (x+7)(x-7)#

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