Answer: (x + 7)(x - 7)
Explanation: If a variable is taken to an even power, that variable is a perfect square. In this case, x² would therefore be a perfect square.
Since 49 is also a perfect square, what we have here is the difference of two squares. That can be factored as the product of two binomials one with a plus in the middle and one with a minus in the middle.
In the first position will be the factors of x² that are the same.
So we have <em>x</em> and <em>x</em>.
In the second position we will have the
factors of 49 that are the same, 7 and 7.
(x + 7)(x - 7) is your answer which is a factored version of x² - 49.
