Question

1. Why do you think the rule is called the difference of two squares?
2. Does it matter whether the product is (a+b) (a-b) or (a-b) (a+b)? Explain .

Answer 1

1. Because (a-b)(a+b) expands to a^2-b^2 which is a difference on two squares
2. No it does not as a and b both represent numbers, and it does not matter which order numbers are multiplied in. For example, 2 x 3 = 3 x 2