How do you factor completely #x^2 - y^2 +xz - yz#?
1 Answer
May 5, 2016
#x^2-y^2+xz-yz=(x-y)(x+y+z)#
Explanation:
#x^2-y^2+xz-yz#
#=(x^2-y^2)+(xz-yz)#
#=(x-y)(x+y)+(x-y)z#
#=(x-y)((x+y)+z)#
#=(x-y)(x+y+z)#
Note the step where we replace
The identity:
#x^2-y^2=(x-y)(x+y)#
is known as the difference of squares identity.
