I have no clue as to where to even start. I appreciate any help Thank you in advance.
-
If you look at the first three terms, you can factor those
9a^2 + 6ab + b^2 (this is a perfect square trinomial)
(3a + b) (3a +b)
(3a + b)^2
Put it back into what you had
(3a + b)^2 - 25.
Now, notice if you had x^2 - 25, you can factor that into (x - 5)(x + 5) since it is a difference of squares. Well, that is what you have. Except, instead of x you have 3a + b. So you just replace x in
x^2 - 25 = (x - 5)(x + 5)
with 3a + b to get
(3a + b)^2 - 25 = (3a + b - 5)(3a + b + 5) and that is completely factored.
9a^2 + 6ab + b^2 (this is a perfect square trinomial)
(3a + b) (3a +b)
(3a + b)^2
Put it back into what you had
(3a + b)^2 - 25.
Now, notice if you had x^2 - 25, you can factor that into (x - 5)(x + 5) since it is a difference of squares. Well, that is what you have. Except, instead of x you have 3a + b. So you just replace x in
x^2 - 25 = (x - 5)(x + 5)
with 3a + b to get
(3a + b)^2 - 25 = (3a + b - 5)(3a + b + 5) and that is completely factored.
-
The first three terms form a perfect square trinomial. Factor this, then factor as the difference of two squares.
(3a + b)² - 25 = (3a + b + 5)(3a + b - 5)
(3a + b)² - 25 = (3a + b + 5)(3a + b - 5)
-
(-5+3a+b) (5+3a+b)