Question

How can we factorize `16x-49`?

Answer 1

As here is no common factor between two monomials of `16x-49` i.e. `16x` and `49`, one can say `16x-49` cannot be factorized further or it is factored completely.

Answer 2

`16x -49` cannot be factored

but `16x^2 -49` is the difference of squares.

Explanation:

`16x -49` cannot be factored at all.

There is no common factor, and this is not a quadratic.

However this is very similar to `16x^2 -49` which can be factored because both terms are now perfect squares.

`16x^2 -49 = (4x +7)(4x-7)`