How do you factor #x^2 - 8x + 16#?

1 Answer
Shwetank Mauria
Sep 9, 2016

#x^2-8x+16=(x-4)(x-4)=(x-4)^2#

Explanation:

To factorize #x^2-8x+16#, we should split the coefficient of middle term #-8# in two parts whose product is product of coefficients of other two terms, i.e. #1xx16=16#.

The pair is #4# and #4# and hence

#x^2-8x+16#

= #x^2-4x-4x+16#

= #x(x-4)-4(x-4)#

= #(x-4)(x-4)=(x-4)^2#

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