Question

How do you factor `256x^2 - 49`?

Answer 1

You can find its roots and then turn them into factors:

`256x^2-49`
`x^2=49/256`
`x=sqrt(49/256)`
`x=+-(7/16)`

Transforming each root `x=+-7/16` into factors...

`16x-7=0` and `16x+7=0`

So, `256x^2-49=color(green)((16x-7)(16x+7))`