You can make it easier by replacing x^n with another variable, factoring, then putting x^n back in the end.
Using exponent and algebra rules, rewrite x^2n - 2x^n + 1 as
(x^n)^2 - (2 x x^2) + 1
Then, let x^n = m.
m^2 - 2m + 1
Now factor that: (m - 1)^2
And now put x^n back: (x^n - 1)^2
Answer:
Greatest number: 9
Least number: 2
Range: 7
Step-by-step explanation:
From smallest to largest, the numbers are: 2, 3, 6, 8, 9. The largest (greatest) is 9 and the least (smallest) is 2. The range is 9-2=7.
Well, their speeds are (

is Jack's speed, and

is Richard's.

They, together, can paint 12 houses in 35 days. To get a single house, we only have to calculate

which is very close to 3 (a bit below)
Number of weekend minutes used: x
Number of weekday minutes used: y
This month Nick was billed for 643 minutes:
(1) x+y=643
The charge for these minutes was $35.44
Telephone company charges $0.04 per minute for weekend calls (x)
and $0.08 per minute for calls made on weekdays (y)
(2) 0.04x+0.08y=35.44
We have a system of 2 equations and 2 unkowns:
(1) x+y=643
(2) 0.04x+0.08y=35.44
Using the method of substitution
Isolating x from the first equation:
(1) x+y-y=643-y
(3) x=643-y
Replacing x by 643-y in the second equation
(2) 0.04x+0.08y=35.44
0.04(643-y)+0.08y=35.44
25.72-0.04y+0.08y=35.44
0.04y+25.72=35.44
Solving for y:
0.04y+25.72-25.72=35.44-25.72
0.04y=9.72
Dividing both sides of the equation by 0.04:
0.04y/0.04=9.72/0.04
y=243
Replacing y by 243 in the equation (3)
(3) x=643-y
x=643-243
x=400
Answers:
The number of weekends minutes used was 400
The number of weekdays minutes used was 243