Square of a Binomial

Key concept

The square of a binomial means multiplying a bracket by itself, giving (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b². The middle 2ab appears because the product ab turns up twice. The difference of squares rule gives (a + b)(a − b) = a² − b².

Square of a Binomial - introduction visual

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Flashcards

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Expansion and simplification of (a + b)² to a² + 2ab + b² using distributive method.Square of a binomial formula, showing (a + b)² = a² + b² + 2ab with coloured squares and rectangles representing each term.Three binomial square formulas, including (a + b)² = a² + b² + 2ab, (a - b)² = a² + b² - 2ab, and (a + b)(a - b) = a² - b².Binomial expansion showing the formula (a + b)² = a² + b² + 2ab, and an example (-2x + 3)² = 4x² + 9 - 12x.Expanding the binomial (5x - 2y)² using the formula (a - b)² = a² + b² - 2ab, resulting in 25x² + 4y² - 20xy.Identifying variables a and b with signs and coefficients in the formula (a + b)(a - b) = a² - b², using (3x + 4)(3x - 4) = 9x² - 16 as an example.

Squaring a Binomial: Where the Formula Comes From

  • Squaring a binomial means multiplying it by itself, like .
  • The middle term appears twice, which is why we get .

Squaring a Binomial: See It Visually

  • The square splits into four parts showing , , and two rectangles.
  • Adding the areas gives .

The 3 Key Formulas

  • .
  • .
  • .

Using : Example

  • Identify a and b including their signs, for example in we have and .
  • Work out squares first, then add the end term to get .

Using : Example

  • Identify a and b including the minus sign, for example in we have and .
  • Work out squares first, then subtract the end term to get .

Using : Example

  • Check the brackets use the same terms with different signs, for example .
  • Square both terms and subtract to get .

Practice Questions

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Q1Easy

Simplify .

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Students Also Ask

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The square of a binomial uses the formula (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b². You square the first term, add twice the product of both terms, then add the square of the second term. For a subtraction, the formula is (a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b².

The middle term appears because multiplying (a + b) by (a + b) produces the product ab twice. Adding these two equal products gives 2ab, the middle term. This is why squaring a binomial expands to three terms rather than just two.

Only the middle sign changes. Squaring a sum gives a² + 2ab + b², while squaring a difference gives a² - 2ab + b². The first and last terms stay positive in both cases, because squaring any term gives a positive result.

Look at the sign between the two terms. A plus sign means you use (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b². A minus sign means you use (a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b². When one bracket adds and the other subtracts the same terms, use a² - b².

The difference of two squares has no middle term because the two middle products cancel out. Multiplying (a + b) by (a - b) gives +ab and -ab, which add to zero. This leaves only the first square minus the second square, a² - b².

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