Question

Factorise: a squared +8a -20

Answer 1

Factor out the 4 in both equations
8a^2-20^2=(2^2 times a^2 times 2)-(2^2 times 5)
therefor it is also equal to
(2a)^2 times 2-(2^2 times 5)
we can force it into a difference of 2 perfect squares which is a^2-b^2=(a-b)(a+b)
(2a√2)^2-(2√5)^2=((2a√2)-(2√5))((2a√2)+(2√5))