Question

Factorise the following:

(x + 2) (x – 2) – 60

Answer 1

The given expression is,

(x + 2) (x – 2) – 60

= x² – 4 – 60

= x² – 64

Here we use the identity

a² – b² = (a + b) (a – b)

Taking a = x and b = 8, we get

∴ (x + 2) (x – 2) – 60

= x² – 8²

= (x + 8) (x – 8)

Therefore, the factors of the given expression are (x + 8) (x – 8)