Question

Factorise:
a - b - a² + b^2

​

Answer 1

Answer:

$a - b - a^2+ b^2$

            Taking (-) common

$a-b-(a^2-b^2)$

             Using the formula, $(a^2-b^2)=(a+b)(a-b)$

$(a-b)-(a-b)(a+b)$  

              Taking $(a-b)$ common

$(a-b)[1-(a+b)]$  

               Simplifying it

$=(a-b)(1-a-b)$   or   $-(a-b)(a+b-1)$

               You can write it either way..