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Mathematics

Factorise the following:

(4 - x)2 - 2x

Factorisation

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Answer

We know that,

(a - b)2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab.

∴ (4 - x)2 - 2x = 16 + x2 - 8x - 2x = 16 + x2 - 10x.

Rearranging the above terms we get,

x2 - 10x + 16.

To factorise x2 - 10x + 16, we want to find two real numbers whose sum is -10 and product is 16. By trial, we see that (-8) + (-2) = -10 and (-8) × (-2) = 16.

∴ x2 - 10x + 16 = x2 + (-8x) + (-2x) + 16

= x2 - 8x - 2x + 16

= x(x - 8) - 2(x - 8)

= (x - 8)(x - 2).

Hence, (4 - x)2 - 2x = (x - 8)(x - 2).

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