Special Products
Overview
Goal. Use the three special-product patterns — square of a sum, square of a difference, and sum times difference — to multiply without writing out every partial product.
Special product (definition). A product whose result follows a predictable pattern: (a + b)², (a − b)², and (a + b)(a − b).
Lesson Notes
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Lesson Video
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Interactive Activity
Goal. Recognize the three special products on sight — the square of a sum, the square of a difference, and a sum times its difference — and write the result from the pattern instead of multiplying out every time.
Difference of squares (definition). A product of the form (a + b)(a − b), equal to a² − b²: the square of the first term minus the square of the second.