How do you factor x^2+4
this should be easy, but I'm not quite getting it
It's a difference of two squares. It'll be (x+sqrt(4)) and (x-(sqrt(4)), for example---replacing 4 with whatever number is being subtracted from x squared.
That one is (x-2)(x+2).
Another example:
x^2-16 = (x-4)(x+4)
You can even do this:
x^4-16 = (x^2-4)(x^2+4)
No. I figured it out and it is an imaginary number. Try foiling what u said. It doesn't work.
To factor the expression x^2 + 4, we need to find two binomial factors that, when multiplied together, equal x^2 + 4. Let's break down the process step by step:
Step 1: Look for perfect square factors
Check if the expression has any perfect square factors. In this case, x^2 is already a perfect square, but the term 4 is also a perfect square.
Step 2: Apply the sum of squares formula
The sum of squares formula is a^2 + b^2 = (a + b)(a - b). We can use this formula to factor x^2 + 4.
Step 3: Identify the factors
Based on the sum of squares formula, we can rewrite x^2 + 4 as (x)^2 + (2)^2. Now we can identify a and b.
a = x, b = 2
Step 4: Use the sum of squares formula to factor
Using the values of a and b, we can factor x^2 + 4 as (x + 2)(x - 2).
And that's it! The factored form of x^2 + 4 is (x + 2)(x - 2).