Is $64a^2 - 144ap + 81p^2$ a perfect square trinomial, and how do you factor it?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-29T18:54:23

$64a^2 = (8a)^2$ and $81p^2 = (9p)^2$ or $(-9p)^2$

Noticing the sign of the middle term, we should try:

$(8a-9p)^2$ which does indeed work...

$(8a-9p)^2 = (8a)^2-2(8a)(9p)+(9p)^2$

$=64a^2-144ap+9p^2$

Is 64a^2 - 144ap + 81p^264a^2 - 144ap + 81p^2 a perfect square trinomial, and how do you factor it?