1. Box 1:
Group 1:
🟦 🟦 🟦
(looks like $x^2$)
Add ➕
Box 2:
🟦 🟦 🟦
(looks like $x^2$)
Group 2:
🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
(9)
=
Total box:
🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
(9)
Total:
🟦 🟦 🟦 🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
(visual of $x^2 - 9$)
2. Now we write the math.
3. Recognize $9 = 3^2$.
4. So $x^2 - 9 = x^2 - 3^2$.
5. This is a difference of squares.
6. Formula: $a^2 - b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)$.
7. Use $a = x$ and $b = 3$.
8. So $x^2 - 3^2 = (x-3)(x+3)$.
9. Final answer:
$$x^2 - 9 = (x-3)(x+3)$$
Great! You did it! 🎉
🟦 🟦 🟦 🍎 🍎 🍎
🍎 🍎 🍎
(visual of $x^2 - 9$)