How do you factor:a) 2x^4 - 18x^2b) 9a^2 + 42a - 49Steps towards the answer would also be helpful. Thanks! :)

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for a) Look at the common factors on both sides of the subtraction symbol: I see two x's and it looks like two can be factored out of eighteenas well, so if you take the two and x^2 out of both terms, you get:2x^2(x^2-9) which will foil out to your original equation.For b) it's a little more complicated, if I've got it right myself..it looks like three and x are the common factors of the first two terms, and I'm going to leave out the constant term when I factor, so it looks like:(3a(3a+14))-49Hope this helps

Find the common factor on both sides... like 2x^2(x^2-9) and repeat the process in the other one!! :)

What others said.