Question

What are the steps of factoring (5m-2)^2-(3m-4)^2 ?

Answer 1

We use the formula a^2 - b^2 = ( a - b )( a + b );
We have a = 5m - 2 and b = 3m - 4;
(5m-2)^2-(3m-4)^2 = (5m - 2 -3m + 4) x (5m-2 + 3m - 4) = (2m + 2)(8m - 6) = 2(m +1) x 2(4m - 3) = 4(m+1)(4m-3);