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MBeautifulQueen01 · Mar 1, 2007, 05:15 PM

[F]hi i need help on solving a algebra problem the problem is (4x-y)(4x+y) YOU HAVE TO SIMPLIFY IT..

SBowman · Mar 1, 2007, 05:25 PM

Surely you have notes on this, do you not?

Do you know how to simplify it?

SBowman · Mar 1, 2007, 05:33 PM

Guess it can't hurt, but here's how you simplify it like:

To simplify a (x-y)(x+y) type formula is:
x^2 - y^2

So to apply that you can simply square the first, then square the last and put a minus in. Simplified, it would be 16x^2 - y^2

Here's how - it'll look like a lot, but just follow along and you'll get it. You need to multiply each thing within the brackets with every number that's after it. So expanded it's:

= (4x * 4x) + (4x * y) + (-y * 4X) + (-y * y)
= 16x^2 + 4xy - 4xy - y^2

The 4xy's cancel each other out:

16x^2 - y^2

Hope that clears anything up.

chris_daughtry9 · Feb 13, 2009, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by SBowman

Guess it can't hurt, but here's how you simplify it like:

To simplify a (x-y)(x+y) type formula is:
x^2 - y^2

So to apply that you can simply square the first, then square the last and put a minus in. Simplified, it would be 16x^2 - y^2

Here's how - it'll look like alot, but just follow along and you'll get it. You need to multiply each thing within the brackets with every number that's after it. So expanded it's:

= (4x * 4x) + (4x * y) + (-y * 4X) + (-y * y)
= 16x^2 + 4xy - 4xy - y^2

The 4xy's cancel each other out:

16x^2 - y^2

Hope that clears anything up.

but why can't it solve the x and the y

rwinterton · Feb 14, 2009, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by chris_daughtry9

but why can't it solve the x and the y

You only have one equation, but two unknowns. There is an infinite number of solutions to this equation. For example, pick a number (any number) for x and then solve for y. Then, pick another number for x and solve for y. You can do this all day. If you had another independent equation, you could solve the pair for one x and one y.

sierra2smart · Jan 5, 2011, 08:17 AM

(x - 2)(x + 3)
(x - 3)(x - 2)

kpeaster · Jan 5, 2012, 04:15 PM

3^3x3^4

keith1 · Jan 10, 2012, 04:31 PM

Rewrite the second equation in the linear system in terms of y. -6x+7y=252 -6x+y=0 y=

keith1 · Jan 10, 2012, 04:32 PM

*****hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhh

victorpascow · Mar 16, 2012, 06:57 AM

(4x-y)(4x+y)
use the distributive property (FOIL)
4 times 4=16 then you have two x's so it would be 16x^2 then 4x times y which is 4xy. Then from 4xy, you subtract 4xy (since -4xy is inside) then subtract -y so the answer would be 16x^2-y.
This's what I mean:
FOIL: (4x-y)(4x+y)
4x times 4x=16x^2
4x times y =4xy-4xy=0
So it would be 16x^2+0-y
Cancel out the 0 and you get 16x^2-y
I'm really good at math and hope this helps!

victorpascow · Mar 16, 2012, 07:01 AM

I forgot there's 2 y's. The real answer really is 16x^2-y^2