Factorize $4a^2 - 9b^2 -2a - 3b$

785 Views Asked by At

I found this question in my textbook - $$4a^2 - 9b^2 -2a - 3b$$ I am in ninth grade and we have been taught how to factorize using identities, splitting the middle term and by using identities. I tried combining the first 2 terms using the identity $a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)\cdot(a-b)$ but I couldn't factorize the while expression even then.

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

You were on the right track: $4a^2-9b^2=(2a)^2-(3b)^2=(2a-3b)(2a+3b)$, so

$$4a^2-9b^2-2a-3b=(2a-3b)(2a+3b)-(2a+3b)\;.$$

Can you finish it from there by pulling out a common factor?