Factor completely: 16x² - 49y².
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. (4x - 7y)(4x + 7y)
- Step 1: Recognize difference of two squares: a² - b² = (a - b)(a + b). Step 2. Here a = √(16x²) = 4x and b = √(49y²) = 7y. Step 3. Factor: (4x - 7y)(4x + 7y). Answer: (4x - 7y)(4x + 7y). Why not the others: (4x - 7y)² expands to 16x² - 56xy + 49y²; 8x does not square to 16x².
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