Question
Factor a^2-b^2-2a+1
Answer
Group the terms to produce the pattern of the difference of squares
a^2-b^2-2a+1
=(a^2-2a+1)-b^2
=(a-1)^2-b^2
=(a+b-1)(a-b-1)
Factor a^2-b^2-2a+1
Group the terms to produce the pattern of the difference of squares
a^2-b^2-2a+1
=(a^2-2a+1)-b^2
=(a-1)^2-b^2
=(a+b-1)(a-b-1)