Question

Factor the following difference of squares. *Check for a GCF.

Answer 1

ANSWER

(x + 15)(x - 15)

EXPLANATION

The difference of squares is equivalent to the product of the sum and subtraction of the bases,

$a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)$

So, to factor this difference of squares, we have to find the principal square roots of each term,

$\begin{gathered} \sqrt[]{x^2}=x \\ \sqrt[]{225}=15 \end{gathered}$

So this is,

$x^2-225=x^2-15^2=(x+15)(x-15)$

Hence, the factored form is (x + 15)(x - 15).