Question

Factorise the following:

4x² – y²

Answer 1

Given expression: 4x² – y²

Step-wise calculation:

1. Recognize this is a difference of squares, since 4x² = (2x)² and y² = (y)².

2. Apply the difference of squares formula:

a² – b² = (a + b)(a – b) 

Here, a = 2x and b = y.

3. Thus, 4x² – y² = (2x + y)(2x – y).