Question

Factorise:
(a) x^2 - y^2 - 2y - 1

Answer 1

x^2 - y^2 - 2y - 1
=x^2 - (y^2 +2y +1)
=x^2 - (y+ 1)^2
=(x-(y+1))((x+(y+1))
=(x-y-1)(x+y+1)