How do you factor $u^2 - 16v^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-19T19:15:20

This is a difference of squares:

$u^2-16v^2 = u^2 - (4v)^2 = (u-4v)(u+4v)$

In general $a^2 - b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)$

Putting $a=u$ and $b=4v$ we have

$u^2-16v^2 = u^2 - (4v)^2$

$= a^2-b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)$

$= (u-4v)(u+4v)$

How do you factor u^2 - 16v^2u^2 - 16v^2?