Question

(y - 2)2 = y2 – 6y + 4 Is this statement true or false?

Answer 1

It is false. Expand the left term, then check if both sides are equal

Answer 2

Answer: False

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Explanation:

I'm assuming you meant to type out

(y-2)^2 = y^2-6y+4

This equation is not true for all real numbers because the left hand side expands out like so

(y-2)^2

(y-2)(y-2)

x(y-2) .... let x = y-2

xy-2x

y(x)-2(x)

y(y-2)-2(y-2) ... replace x with y-2

y^2-2y-2y+4

y^2-4y+4

So if the claim was (y-2)^2 = y^2-4y+4, then the claim would be true. However, the right hand side we're given doesn't match up with y^2-4y+4

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Another approach is to pick some y value such as y = 2 to find that

(y-2)^2 = y^2-6y+4

(2-2)^2 = 2^2 - 6(2) + 4 .... plug in y = 2

0^2 = 2^2 - 6(2) + 4

0 = 4 - 6(2) + 4

0 = 4 - 12 + 4

0 = -4

We get a false statement. This is one counterexample showing the given equation is not true for all values of y.