Question

How do you factor the expression `4x^2-1`?

Answer 1

Apply the difference of squares formula to find that
`4x^2-1 = (2x+1)(2x-1)`

Explanation:

The difference of squares formula states that
`a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)`
(Verify this by expanding the right hand side)

Applying this to the given problem, we have

`4x^2-1 = (2x)^2 - 1^2 = (2x+1)(2x-1)`