Multiply the expression as you would multiply polynomials. $$\left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } + b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right) \left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } - b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right)$$
A) $\quad a ^ { 19 } - b ^ { 15 }$
B) $\quad ( a - b ) ^ { 17 }$
$\begin{array} { l l } \text { c. } & ( a + b ) ^ { 2 } \ \text { d. } & a ^ { 38 } - b ^ { 30 } \end{array}$

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an application of the difference of squares formula, $a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b)$. Here, $a = a^{19/2}$ and $b = b^{15/2}$, so the product is $a^{19} - b^{15}$.

Multiply the Expression as You Would Multiply Polynomials (a19/2+b15/2)(a19/2−b15/2)\left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } + b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right) \left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } - b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right)(a19/2+b15/2)(a19/2−b15/2)

Multiply the Expression as You Would Multiply Polynomials $\left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } + b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right) \left( a ^ { 19 / 2 } - b ^ { 15 / 2 } \right)$