Use a Special Factoring Formula to factor the expression: (x+3)^2 - 4?

Question

P.S. what formula is used to solve this?

Answer 1

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

(x+3)^2 - 4 = (x+3)^2 - 2^2 = (x+3+2)(x+3-2)
= (x+5)(x+1)

Answer 2

I use the FOIL formula which stands for First Outside Inside Last

the expresstion re-written is (x+3)(x+3)-4

First you multiply the first two x's which = x^2

Then multiply the Outside values x(3)

Then multiply the Inside values (3)x

Then multiply the Last values 3(3) = 9

so it is x^2 + 6x + 9 -4

and the final answer is x^2 +6x +5

is that what you were looking for?