How do you factor $(b+2)^2 - (b-2)^2$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-12-17T23:31:06

Apply the difference of squares formula and simplify to find

$(b+2)^2 - (b-2)^2 = 8b$

The difference of squares formula states that
$a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$

In this case, we just happen to have binomials as $a$ and $b$ . However, the formula still applies.

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

$= (2b)(4)$

$= 8b$

How do you factor (b+2)^2 - (b-2)^2(b+2)^2 - (b-2)^2?