Thread: Another polynomial questions

this is my problem:

Show that the order you group terms when factoring a four-term polynomial does ot nake any difference. Give one example to illustrate this, showing the steps of both situations. I will be sooo glad when this class is over...I'm sooo completly lost! I truly appreciate all the help this site has provided me!

Polynomial:

Case 1: Group together the first two and the last two:



Which gives us:



We then have:



And since is a difference of squares we have:



Which equals:



Case 2: Group the first with the third term and the second with the fourth:



Factor out common terms:



Which gives us:



Once again, a difference of squares:



For a final answer of:



Both cases are equal.