Question

Both (×-3)(×+3) and (3-×) (3+×) contain a sum and a difference with each factor only containing a 3 and an x.If each expression is rewritten in standard form, will the two expressions be the same? Explain or show your reasoning.

Answer 1

The given expression is called a difference of perfect squares because those factors are equivalent to such difference, let's solve them

`\begin{gathered} (x-3)(x+3)=x^2-9 \\ (3-x)(3+x)=9-x^2 \end{gathered}`

According to the expressions above, the expressions are not equivalent because the terms are changed.

Hence, the two expressions are not the same because they are equivalent to similar but different expressions.