How do you determine if a polynomial is the difference of two squares?

Answer by  noonespecial (235)

First know your basic squared numbers i. e. 1, 4, 9, 16. Once memorized, you need to know the format of the difference of two squares. 4 - 1, for instance, is a difference of two squares, because 2² = 4, and 1² = 1. With variables it might look like X² - 25. One is being subtracted from the other, leaving a "difference".

Answer by  VB (361)

The polynomial would be in the form: A^2 - B^2 So, it should only be two terms. Each term should be able to perfectly take a square root of it. Examples: 64-x^2 (it is 8 squared - x squared) x^6 - 4y^2 (it is (x^3) squared - (2y) squared Hope this helps.