How do you factor the expression $x^2 - 49$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-12-03T04:30:43

Apply the difference of squares formula to find
$x^2 - 49 = (x+7)(x-7)$

The difference of squares formula states that
$a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a-b)$
(multiply out the right hand side to verify this)

Applying this, we have
$x^2 - 49 = x^2 - 7^2 = (x+7)(x-7)$

How do you factor the expression x^2 - 49x^2 - 49?