How do you factor completely $24r^2s^2 - 9t^2u^2$ ?

Question

1152 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-08-02T12:30:42

$3(8r^2s^2 - 3t^2u^2)$

Always look for a common factor first.

$24r^2s^2 - 9t^2u^2$

= $3(8r^2s^2 - 3t^2u^2)$

This does not factor further.

However, if the expression had been:

$25r^2s^2 - 9t^2u^2$ we would have had difference of squares.

= $(5rs+3tu)(5rs-3tu)$

How do you factor completely 24r^2s^2 - 9t^2u^224r^2s^2 - 9t^2u^2?