Question

ginger was asked to solve 25x^2 - 196 = 0 by factoring using the difference of squares pattern. What is/are the correct solutions?
x = 196/25
there are no solution for x because the difference of squares pattern does not apply
x = 14/5
x = -14/5, x = 14/5

Answer 1

25x^2 - 196 = (5x)^2 - 14^2 = (5x - 14)(5x + 14) = 0

So 5x - 14 = 0 → x = 14/5, and 5x + 14 = 0 → x = -14/5.

Answer: x = -14/5, x = 14/5.