25 a square minus 4b square + 28 BC - 49 c square and factorise that

Answer: (5a+2b−7c)(5a−2b+7c)(5a + 2b - 7c)(5a - 2b + 7c)

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Group the terms involving b and c

Observe that the last 3 terms contain variables bb and cc, along with the cross product term 28bc28bc. We can factor out a negative sign from these 3 terms to form a grouped quadratic trinomial in parentheses.

Step 2: Express the grouped trinomial as a perfect square

The expression inside the parentheses matches the algebraic identity x2−2xy+y2=(x−y)2x^2 - 2xy + y^2 = (x - y)^2, where x=2bx = 2b and y=7cy = 7c. Checking the middle term, 2×2b×7c=28bc2 \times 2b \times 7c = 28bc, which confirms it is a perfect square trinomial.

Step 3: Rewrite the expression as a difference of two squares

We rewrite 25a225a^2 as (5a)2(5a)^2. The entire expression is now of the form X2−Y2X^2 - Y^2, where X=5aX = 5a and Y=(2b−7c)Y = (2b - 7c).

Step 4: Apply the difference of squares identity

Applying the identity X2−Y2=(X+Y)(X−Y)X^2 - Y^2 = (X + Y)(X - Y), we substitute X=5aX = 5a and Y=2b−7cY = 2b - 7c. Expanding the brackets carefully gives (5a+2b−7c)(5a + 2b - 7c) and (5a−2b+7c)(5a - 2b + 7c).

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