Overview

The purpose of this lesson is to learn how to identify and factor special products.

This lesson will address the following CCRS Standard(s) for Algebra:

A.SSE.3: Choose and produce an equivalent form of an expression to reveal and explain properties of the quantity represented by the expression
A.SSE.3a: Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines
A.CED.1: Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems. Include equation arising from linear and quadratic functions, and simple rational and exponential functions
A.REI.4: Solve quadratic equations in one variable

Directions

Take notes while watching videos below
Go to http://wamap.org and log into our course to complete assignment 7.D with 80% or better.

In this lesson we have learned:

To identify special products by considering the number of terms and the exponents.
The following formulas can be used to factor special products:
- $a^{2} \pm 2 a b + b^{2} = {(a \pm b)}^{2}$
- $a^{2} - b^{2} = (a + b) (a - b)$
- $a^{3} \pm b^{3} = (a \pm b) (a^{2} \mp a b + b^{2})$
- $a^{2} + b^{2}$ does not factor (unless we have GCF)