factoring polynomials

jmcbride said:
How do you factor the polynomial c^2-6cd+9d^2-4
Click to expand...

c^2 - 6cd + 9d^2 - 4

= (c^2 - 6cd + 9d^2) - 4

= (c - 3d)[sup:2u6bte3k]2[/sup:2u6bte3k] - 2[sup:2u6bte3k]2[/sup:2u6bte3k]

Now continue...
 
DUh! Thanks! I ended up with (c-3d+2)(c-3d-2). Is this right? When I went back and checked the multiplication using the box method, my c terms cancelled as did the the d terms leaving c^2-6cd+9d^2-4. Thanks again. Sometimes you overlook the obvious.
 
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