## anonymous 3 years ago factor 4y^2-9

1. anonymous

It is of the form a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b). Here: a² = 4y² and b² = 9. So if you can figure out a and b, you can factor it!

2. anonymous

would it be (4y+3)(4y-3) ?

3. whpalmer4

Close, but not quite. 4*4 = 16.

4. whpalmer4

$a^2 = 4y^2$Take square root of both sides $a=\sqrt{4y^2} = ?$

5. anonymous

oh haha so it would be (2y+3)(2y-3)

6. anonymous

Right!

7. whpalmer4

By the way, learning to recognize difference of squares like this is an important trick in your bag of factoring tricks.

8. anonymous

okay! haha blonde moment! :)

9. anonymous

We all have that once in a while!

10. anonymous

haha this is my 6 th one today :/

11. whpalmer4

And whenever you think you've solved something, or factored it, it's not a bad idea at all to expand it out or plug in the solution and make sure that your answer works!

12. anonymous

You used them up for the whole week already!

13. whpalmer4

Might have to wear a wig for a few days ;-)

14. anonymous

haha thanks guys! and its natural I cant help it. and the wig wouldnt hide anything. honestly ive tried that and it didn't work:(

15. anonymous

Just learn to live with it ;)

16. anonymous

haha I do! I just accept im a natural blonde but at least im not a bimbo!

17. anonymous

Good luck with your maths problems!

18. whpalmer4

I have a friend who is a natural brunette, but she prefers to be blonde, and often pulls it off quite convincingly :-)