Factoring Trig Expression

[cold adder]

Any help would be appreciated.

[lost jolt]

Difference of squares

x^2-y^2=(x-y)(x+y)

[cold adder]

Yea, I’m trying to work it out tho.

[cold adder]

I understand the difference in squares. I just get lost after I factor. I get confused with the signs. Am I on the right track here or not really?

[cold adder]

Thanks for your input.

[blazing minnow]

@cold adder has given 1 rep to @lost jolt

[final quarry]

You don't even have to do the difference of squares, you can just expand the binomials.

Or, wait.

Actually, I'm not sure what is meant by "factoring" the expression exactly. I know what is meant by simplifying it, but you can simplify it without factoring it at all.

But yeah, if you wanted to factor it, it'd just be your standard difference of squares.

[cold adder]

Yea they throw a wrench in the system and want it factored. Even tho I’m dealing with trig functions.

[final quarry]

Which is really weird because they have no way whatsoever to tell whether you did or not after you simplify it completely.

[cold adder]

It’s confusing because to simplify the trig functions is a different route.

[cold adder]

Yea I got 4 at the end and punched it in. It’s a practice quiz so I’m able to do it multiple times. Turns out 4 is what they wanted.