Question

How do you factor `2a^2-32`?

Answer 1

`2a^2 - 32 = 2(a-4)(a+4)`

Explanation:

`2a^2 - 32 = 2(a^2 - 16)` (factoring out 2)
`= 2(a - 4)(a + 4)`

^This is an identity, `a^2 - b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)`

Answer 2

`2(a+4)(a-4)`

Explanation:

To factor `2a^2-32`

Begin by factoring out 2 from each term.

`2(a^2-16)`

`a^2 - 16` is the difference of two squares and can be factored as `a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)`

`2(a+4)(a-4)`

Answer 3

`2(a- 4)(a + 4)`

Explanation:

Factorize the expression `(2a^2 - 32)` first, which will give us
`2(a^2 - 16)`
But `(a^2 - 16)` is a perfect square expression. Therefore it can further be factorized to
`(a^2 - 16)`
=`(a- 16)^2`
=`(a- 4)(a + 4)`
Hence joining all them will sum up to
`:. 2(a- 4)(a + 4)`