IGCSE Maths / Working with algebra

Difference of two squares revision notes

Edexcel International GCSE Maths (4MA1), chapter 4: Working with algebra, specification point 2.2b. Part of the full course.

Watch the video lesson · IGCSE Maths past papers

A difference of two squares is a square minus another square, such as x² − 36. It factorises into two brackets, one with a plus and one with a minus, which is useful for writing quadratics as products.

More lessons in Working with algebra

• Order of operations
• Collecting like terms
• Substituting into expressions and formulae
• Index laws with algebraic terms
• Fractional indices
• Expanding a single bracket
• Expanding double brackets
• Expanding triple brackets
• Factorising with a common factor
• Factorising quadratics of the form x squared plus bx plus c
• Factorising with a coefficient
• Writing and deriving a formula
• Changing the subject of a formula
• When the subject has a power on it