Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Factoring Quadratics
Factoring quadratics involves rewriting a quadratic expression in the form ax^2 + bx + c as a product of two binomials. This process often utilizes the relationship between the coefficients and the roots of the equation. For example, the expression q^2 + 6q + 9 can be factored into (q + 3)(q + 3) or (q + 3)^2.
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Difference of Squares
The difference of squares is a specific factoring technique used when an expression takes the form a^2 - b^2. It can be factored into (a + b)(a - b). In the given expression, p^2 is a perfect square, allowing us to apply this method to factor the entire expression q^2 + 6q + 9 - p^2 as ((q + 3)^2 - p^2).
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Difference of Squares Formula
The difference of squares formula states that a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b). This formula is crucial for simplifying expressions that can be represented as the difference of two squares. In the context of the question, after recognizing that the expression can be rewritten as ((q + 3)^2 - p^2), we can apply this formula to factor it further into (q + 3 + p)(q + 3 - p).
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