Question

How do you factor `(x^ { 2} - 4) + ( 10x + 3)`?

Answer 1

`(x + 2)(x - 2) + (10x + 3)`

Explanation:

The second term in this expression cannot be factored, but the first one can. In this case, it happens to be the difference of two perfect squares. In order to factor a binomial such as this one, rewrite the term as:

`(a^2 - b^2)`

The two factors of the binomial can then be written as:

`(a + b)` and `(a - b)`