How do you factor 9m^2-1449m2−144?

1 Answer
Jim G.
Mar 6, 2017

9(m-4)(m+4)9(m−4)(m+4)

Explanation:

The first step in factorising is to take out any color(blue)"common factor"common factor

rArr9m^2-144=9(m^2-16)larr" common factor of 9"⇒9m2−144=9(m2−16)← common factor of 9

Now m^2-16" is a " color(blue)"difference of squares"m2−16 is a difference of squares and is factorised, in general, as shown.

color(red)(bar(ul(|color(white)(2/2)color(black)(a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b))color(white)(2/2)|)))

"For " m^2-16to a=m" and " b=4

rArrm^2-16=(m-4)(m+4)

Putting it all together gives.

rArr9m^2-144=9(m-4)(m+4)

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