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what is w to the 2nd power subtract 1??? please factor. and explain step by step.

2007-09-11 09:42:00 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics

w^2 - 1 = w^2 - 1^2 = (w + 1)(w - 1)

it follows the rule:

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

in this case, a=w, b=1

2007-09-11 09:48:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anthony P - Greece 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

there is a formula a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)

subsitute a = w and b = 1 in your expression
then w^2 - 1 = (w+1)(w-1)

2007-09-11 16:48:31 · answer #2 · answered by norman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋