2006-09-02 11:40:57 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
you can factor it as
(x-1 -2)(x-1+2)=
(x-3)(x+1)
I hope that is what you were after?
2006-09-02 11:45:42 · answer #1 · answered by Edward 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Solution:
= (x-1)^2 - (2)^2
Using the following indentity a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)
where a = (x-1) and b = 2
Substituting:
(x-1+2)(x-1-2) = (x+1)(x-3)
Good luck
2006-09-02 20:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by alrivera_1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
42
2006-09-02 18:46:23 · answer #3 · answered by Sordenhiemer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ummm, thats not the difference of 2 squares... if you want to simplify it, then it would be x^2 - 2x - 3
2006-09-02 18:43:50 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
there's a simple formula that you can use: a^2-b^2=(a-b)*(a+b)
in your case a^2 = (x-1)^2 and b^2 = 4. so, a=x-1 and b=2
then, (x-1)^2-4 = (x-1-2)*(x-1+2)=(x-3)(x+1)
2006-09-06 16:04:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
x^2 -2x -3
2006-09-02 18:51:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋