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a2 - b2 Formula

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

a2 - b2 formula in Algebra is the basic formula in mathematics used to solve various algebraic problems. a2 - b2 formula is also called the difference of squares formula, as this formula helps us to find the difference between two squares without actually calculating the squares. The image added below shows the formula of a2 - b2.

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It is also used to solve trigonometric, differential, and other problems. This formula tells us that the difference between two square numbers is equal to the product of the sum and difference of the two numbers, i.e.

a2 - b2 = (a + b).(a - b)

The formula a2 - b2 allows us to determine the variance between the squares of two numbers without the need to compute the actual square values. The expression for the a2 - b2 formula is as follows: a2 - b2 = (a + b).(a - b)

Difference of Squares Formula

The difference of two squares is calculated using the standard algebraic identity a2 - b2. For example, we are given two variables, a and b, then the difference of their squares is calculated using the formula, a2 – b2 = (a+b) . (a–b)

Basically, the difference of squares formula says that for any two algebraic variables a and b, the expression a2 – b2 is equal to the product of the sum and difference of the variables. This identity is used widely to simplify complicated algebraic expressions.

a2 - b2 Square Formula Proof

a2 - b2 identity can be proved by simplifying the RHS of the identity. The a2 - b2 formula is given as,

a2 - b2 = (a - b)(a + b)

This formula is proved as,

RHS = (a+b) (a–b)
⇒ RHS = a (a–b) + b (a–b)
⇒ RHS = a2 – ab + ba – b2
⇒ RHS = a2 – ab + ab – b2
⇒ RHS = a2 – b2
⇒ RHS = LHS

Hence Proved.

a2 + b2 Formula

The a2 + b2 formula is the algebraic formula that is used to find the sum of the squares of two numbers. The sum of the square formula is given as,

a2 + b2 = (a + b)2 - 2ab

The a2 + b2 formula is used to solve various algebraic problems. Various other important algebraic formulas are added below,

(a + b)2 and (a - b)2 Formula

The (a + b)2 formula is given as,

(a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab

The (a - b)2 formula is given as,

(a - b)2 = a2 + b2 - 2ab

a2 - b2 Identity

a2 - b2 identity is one of the algebraic identities that is used to find the difference between the squares of two numbers. This identity has various applications and is given as,

a2 - b2 = (a - b).(a + b)

All a2 + b2 Formula

Here are some important and frequently used Algebra formulas involving squares.

  • a²– b² = (a – b)(a + b)
  • (a + b)²=  a²+ 2ab + b²
  • a²+ b²= (a + b)²– 2ab
  • (a – b)² = a²– 2ab+ b²
  • (a + b + c)² = a² + b² + c²+ 2ab + 2bc + 2ca
  • (a – b – c)² = a²+ b²+ c²– 2ab + 2bc – 2ca

Read More,

Solved Question on a2 - b2 Formula

Question 1: Simplify x2 – 16

Solution:

x2 – 16
We will use the a2 - b2 formula to factorize this.
= x2 – 42
We know that, a2 – b2 = (a+b) (a–b)
Given,

  • a = x
  • b = 4

= (x + 4)(x – 4)

Question 2: Simplify 9y2 – 144

Solution:

9y2 – 144
We will use the a2 - b2 formula to factorize this.
= (3y)2 – (12)2
We know that, a2 – b2 = (a+b)(a–b)
Given,

  • a = 3y
  • b = 12

= (3y + 12)(3y – 12)

Question 3: Simplify (3x + 2)2 – (3x – 2)2

Solution:

We know that,
a2 – b2 = (a+b)(a–b)

Given,

  • a = 3x + 2
  • b = 3x – 2

(3x + 2)2 – (3x – 2)2
= (3x + 2 + 3x – 2)(3x + 2 – (3x – 2))
= 6x(3x + 2 – 3x + 2)
= 6x(4)
= 24x

Question 4: Simplify y2 – 100

Solution:

y2 – 100
We will use the a2 - b2 formula to factorize this.

= y2 – (10)2
We know that,
a2 – b2 = (a+b)(a–b)

Given,

  • a = y
  • b = 10

= (y + 10)(y – 10)

Question 5: Evaluate (x + 6) (x – 6)

Solution:

We know that,
(a+b) (a–b) = a2 – b2

Given,

  • a = x
  • b = 6

(x + 6) (x – 6)
= x2 – 62
= x2 – 36

Question 6: Evaluate (y + 13)(y – 13)

Solution:

We know that,
(a+b) (a–b) = a2 – b2

Given,

  • a = y
  • b = 13

(y + 13).(y – 13)
= y2 – (13)2
= y2 – 169

Question 7: Evaluate (x + y + z).(x + y – z)

Solution:

We know that,
(a+b) (a–b) = a2 – b2

Given,

  • a = x + y
  • b = z

(x + y + z) (x + y – z)
= (x + y)2 – z2
= x2 + y2 + 2xy – z2

Unsolved Question on (a2 - b2) Formula

Q1. Simplify 152 - 142 using a2 - b2 identity.

Q2. Simplify 112 - 72 using a2 - b2 identity.

Q3. Solve 232 - 92 using a2 - b2 identity.

Q4. Solve 92 - 72 using a2 - b2 identity.

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