How do I evaluate something like 3070^2-3069^2?

This looks pretty daunting, but the key to this sort of a problem, which has come up a couple of times in previous PAT tests, is to recognise that this expression is actually the difference of two squares. It can be generalised to the problem of evaluating:

x2-y2

which has as its solution:

x2-y2 = (x+y)(x-y)

so in this case:

30702-30692 = (3070+3069)(3070-3069)=(6139)(1)=6139

Answered by Sam C. PAT tutor

2304 Views

See similar PAT University tutors

Related PAT University answers

All answers ▸

If a bullet is shot into a suspended mass and does not pass through why can you not just use conservation of energy?


Physics PAT 2017 question 20 https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/page/2011/02/14/pat-2017-paper-42578.pdf


If water is trapped between two planes on a train, and the train decelerates at 4ms^-2. What angle does the surface of the water make with the horizontal?


Given that during a total solar eclipse the Sun is fully hidden by the Moon, calculate the radius of the Moon. (You may use the following: Solar radius 700,000 km, Sun-Earth distance 150,000,000 km, Moon-Earth distance 400,000 km)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy