Question

How do you simplify `( 3 - 2sqrt2 )^2`?

Answer 1

From the general form:
`color(white)("XXXX")` `(a-b)^2 = a^2 -2ab +b^2`

We can write
`color(white)("XXXX")` `(3-2sqrt(2))^2 = 9 -12sqrt(2) +8`
`color(white)("XXXX")` `color(white)("XXXXXXX")` `=17-12sqrt(2)`