Factoring Help?

Question

Am I doing this right?This is factoring the difference of two squares. Ok the problem a^2-(b+c)^2
ok so I have 2 sets of parenthesis one of which is postive one negative, I find the square root of the first term and write it in the first space in each parenthesis ie. (a+ )(a- ) ok then the find the square root of the second term (b+c)^2 which would be bc?

so a^2-(b+c)^2 would be (a+bc)(a-bc)?

If I made a mistake in this process please correct me I really need the help, factoring is not my favorite part of math.

Answer 1

Not quite. You can treat (b + c) as a single constant, x, and rewrite the equation:

a² - x² = (a + x) * (a - x)

Now substitute the (b + c) back in for x:

(a + b + c) * (a - b - c)

note that the minus sign is propogated through the (b + c) in the second half.

Answer 2

I am sorry to say but (b+c)^2 square root is not 'bc' but 'b+c'
so the answer will be (a+(b+c))(a-(b+c))

Answer 3

Not correct.

The second term is (b+c)^2 so square root = b+c and not bc

using this we immediately get(a+(b+c))(a-(b+c))

.

Answer 4

=(a+(b+c))(a-(b+c))
=(a+b+c)(a-b-c)