Question

How do you factor `(p^2 - 36)`?

Answer 1

`(p+6)(p-6)`

Explanation:

The difference of two squares `(a^2-b^2)` is factored as:
`\qquad (a+b)(a-b)`

Little proof:
`(a+b)(a-b)=a^2+ab-ba-b^2`
`\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad = a^2-b^2`

So, for your problem:
`\qquad (p^2-36)=(p+6)(p-6)`