One thing that I learned this week in Pre Calc 11 is how to solve for a difference if squares. Before solving for a difference of squares you have to know what a difference of squares is.

Looking For a Difference of Squares

To determine if a sequence is a difference of squares there are three main things you should look for. First, you should look if the sequence is a binomial. If the sequence is not a binomial than it can not be a difference of squares. Second, you should look to see if everything in the sequence is a perfect square. Everything in the sequence needs to be a perfect square because when you factor a difference of squares they turn into conjugates of each other. Third, make sure that the binomial is subtraction expression.

Below I will look to see if the expression is a difference of squares using what I learned in the paragraph above. After I determine whether the expression is a difference of squares or not, I will factor.