use the distributive property to find which expression is equivalent to 9x^2 - 25

1 answer

To use the distributive property for the expression \( 9x^2 - 25 \), we can recognize that it resembles the difference of squares, which takes the form \( a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b) \).

In this case:

  • \( 9x^2 \) can be rewritten as \( (3x)^2 \) since \( (3x)^2 = 9x^2 \).
  • \( 25 \) can be rewritten as \( 5^2 \).

Now we can express \( 9x^2 - 25 \) as a difference of squares:

\[ 9x^2 - 25 = (3x)^2 - 5^2 \]

Using the difference of squares formula:

\[ (3x)^2 - 5^2 = (3x - 5)(3x + 5) \]

Thus, the expression \( 9x^2 - 25 \) is equivalent to \((3x - 5)(3x + 5)\).