How do you factor $(p^2 - 36)$ ?

Question

3714 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-01-27T03:40:21

$(p+6)(p-6)$

The difference of two squares $(a^2-b^2)$ is factored as:
$\qquad (a+b)(a-b)$

Little proof:
$(a+b)(a-b)=a^2+ab-ba-b^2$
$\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad = a^2-b^2$

So, for your problem:
$\qquad (p^2-36)=(p+6)(p-6)$

How do you factor (p^2 - 36)(p^2 - 36)?