Help with Factorising Algebraic Expressions (1 Viewer)

HelloIAmGone · Feb 3, 2019

How do you factorise a²-b²-a+b?

The answers state (a-b)(a+b-1), and whilst trying to work out the question I got up to "(a+b)(a-b)-(a-b)" but have no idea on what to do next... complete mindblank rn x-x

InteGrand · Feb 3, 2019

HelloIAmGone said:
How do you factorise a²-b²-a+b?

The answers state (a-b)(a+b-1), and whilst trying to work out the question I got up to "(a+b)(a-b)-(a-b)" but have no idea on what to do next... complete mindblank rn x-x

$\noindent It's the same as how $YX - X = X(Y-1)$ (where $Y = a + b$ and $X = a-b$). In other words, factor out an $(a-b)$ from each term in $(a+b)(a-b) - (a-b)$.$

HeroWise · Feb 3, 2019

HelloIAmGone · Feb 4, 2019

Didn't think of that at all... thanks!

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Help with Factorising Algebraic Expressions (1 Viewer)

HelloIAmGone

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InteGrand

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HeroWise

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HelloIAmGone

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