Expand using distributive property: To prove the identity a2−b2=(a+b)(a−b), we will expand the right-hand side of the equation using the distributive property (also known as the FOIL method for binomials).
Multiply first terms: First, we multiply the first terms of each binomial: a×a=a2.
Multiply outer terms: Next, we multiply the outer terms: a×(−b)=−ab.
Multiply inner terms: Then, we multiply the inner terms: b×a=ab.
Multiply last terms: Finally, we multiply the last terms of each binomial: b×(−b)=−b2.
Combine all products: Now, we combine all the products: a2−ab+ab−b2.
Cancel out additive inverses: We notice that −ab and +ab are additive inverses, so they cancel each other out: a2+0−b2.
Simplify the expression: Simplifying the expression, we are left with a2−b2, which is the left-hand side of the original equation.
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