Special Situations in Factoring

• Difference of two squares
• a²- b² = (a + b)(a - b)
• x²- 144 = (x + 12)(a - 12)
• x²- 144 = (x + 12)(a - 12)
• x²- 144 = (x + 12)(a - 12)
• Trinomial perfect squares
• a² + 2ab + b² = (a + b)(a + b) or (a + b)²
• 3 examples
• ^{a2 - 2ab + b2 = (a - b)(a - b) or (a - b)2}
• 3 examples
• Difference of two cubes
• a³ - b³
• 3 - cube root 'em
• 2 - square 'em
• 1 - multiply and change
• 3 examples
• Sum of two cubes
• a³ + b³ 
• 3 - cube root 'em
• 2 - square 'em
• 1 - multiply and change
• 3 examples
• Binomial expansion
• (a + b)³ = Use the pattern
• (a + b)⁴ = Use the pattern