Chapter 4: Problem 40
Find each product. $$ p(3 p+7)(3 p-7) $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
9p^2 - 49
Step by step solution
01
- Identify the expression structure
Notice that the expression \( (3p + 7)(3p - 7) \) fits the difference of squares formula: \((a + b)(a - b) = a^2 - b^2\). Here, \(a = 3p\) and \(b = 7\).
02
- Apply the difference of squares formula
Using the formula for the difference of squares, rewrite the expression: \((3p + 7)(3p - 7) = (3p)^2 - 7^2\).
03
- Simplify the squares
Calculate the squares of both terms: \( (3p)^2 = 9p^2 \) and \( 7^2 = 49 \).
04
- Subtract the constants
Subtract the squared terms: \( 9p^2 - 49 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Factoring Techniques
Factoring is a key concept in algebra that helps simplify expressions and solve equations. One important technique is the difference of squares. This occurs when an expression is in the form \(a^2 - b^2\). For example, an expression like \((3p + 7)(3p - 7)\) can be factored as a difference of squares. Here’s how it works:
- Rewrite the expression in the form \(a^2 - b^2\).
- If the expression looks like \((a + b)(a - b)\), identify \(\textbf{a}\) and \(\textbf{b}\).
- In our example, \(a = 3p\) and \(\textbf{b} = 7\).
- Applying the formula gives us \(a^2 - b^2 = (3p)^2 - 7^2\).
- Simplify as \((3p)^2 = 9p^2\) and \(\textbf{7^2 = 49}\).
- Thus, \((3p + 7)(3p - 7)\) simplifies to \(9p^2 - 49\).
Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic expressions combine numbers, variables, and mathematical operations to describe relationships and quantities. An example is \(3p + 7\) or \(3p - 7\). These form the basic building blocks in algebra.
- Terms: Individual parts of an expression separated by \( + \textbackslash{} \textbackslash{} - \). In \(3p + 7\), \(\textbf{3p}\) and \(\textbf{7}\) are terms.
- Factors: Numbers or variables that multiply together to form a term. In the term \(3p\), \(\textbf{3}\) and \(p\) are factors.
- Coefficients: The numerical part of a term. In \(\textbf{3p}\), \(\textbf{3}\) is the coefficient.
- Constants: Numbers without variables. In \(\textbf{7}\), \( \textbf{7} \) is a constant.
Polynomials
Polynomials are expressions consisting of variables and coefficients, connected by addition, subtraction, and multiplication operations. They look like \(9p^2 - 49\). More formally, a polynomial in one variable \(x\) looks like: \(a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x^{n-1} + ... + a_1 x + a_0\), where \(a_n, a_{n-1}, ..., a_0\) are coefficients and \(n\) is a non-negative integer.
- Monomials: Polynomials with a single term like \(3p\) or \(-5x^2\).
- Binomials: Polynomials with two terms such as \(9p^2 - 49\) (after using the difference of squares).
- Trinomials: Polynomials with three terms.
- Degrees: The highest power of the variable in the polynomial. For \(9p^2 - 49\), the degree is 2.