Precalculus Examples

$a^{2} - b^{2}$ , $a^{2} - 2 a b + b^{2}$

Step 1

Add $a^{2}$ and $a^{2}$ .

$2 a^{2} - b^{2} - 2 a b + b^{2}$

Step 2

Add $- b^{2}$ and $b^{2}$ .

$2 a^{2} - 2 a b + 0$

Step 3

Add $2 a^{2} - 2 a b$ and $0$ .

$2 a^{2} - 2 a b$

Step 4

Factor $2 a$ out of $2 a^{2} - 2 a b$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1

Factor $2 a$ out of $2 a^{2}$ .

$2 a (a) - 2 a b$

Step 4.2

Factor $2 a$ out of $- 2 a b$ .

$2 a (a) + 2 a (- 1 b)$

Step 4.3

Factor $2 a$ out of $2 a (a) + 2 a (- 1 b)$ .

$2 a (a - 1 b)$

Step 5

Rewrite $- 1 b$ as $- b$ .

$2 a (a - b)$

Step 6

The greatest common factor $GCF$ is the term in front of the factored expression.

$2 a$