View source for Difference of squares

Recognizing a '''difference of squares''' is a commonly used factoring technique in [[algebra]].  It refers to the identity <math>a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)</math>.  Note that this identity depends only on the (right and left) [[distributive property]] and the [[commutative property]] of multiplication and so holds not only for [[real]] or [[complex number]]s but also for [[polynomial]]s, in [[modular arithmetic | arithmetic modulo]] <math>m</math> for any [[positive integer]] <math>m</math>, or more generally in any [[commutative ring]].



==See Also==
* [[Sum and difference of powers]]
* [[Factoring]]

[[Category:Elementary algebra]]
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