Determine if the expression is a perfect square and if it is, factor it.
a2 – 8a + 16

A.
(a + 4)(a – 4)

B.
(4a + 1)2

C.
(a – 4)(a – 4)

D.
not a perfect square



Answer :

The answer is C. With FOIL, F would be a*a (a^2), O would be a*-4 (-4a), I would be -4*a (-4a), and L would be -4*-4 (16). Both -4a and -4a have the same variable (a) so would combine to make -8a. You would then end up with a^2-8a+16.
a²-8a+16
=(a-4)(a-4)
=a²-4a-4a-[-[4•4]]

=a²-8a+16


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answer =C

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