Welcome to ESL Printables, the website where English Language teachers exchange resources: worksheets, lesson plans,  activities, etc.
Our collection is growing every day with the help of many teachers. If you want to download you have to send your own contributions.
 


 
 

 

ESL Forum:

Techniques and methods in Language Teaching

Games, activities and teaching ideas

Grammar and Linguistics

Teaching material

Concerning worksheets

Concerning powerpoints

Concerning online exercises

Make suggestions, report errors

Ask for help

Message board

 

ESL forum > Ask for help > Maths expression    

Maths expression



coyote.chus
Spain

Maths expression
 
Hi,
The Maths teacher at my school (she teaches Maths in English to some groups) has a doubt, and I can �t help her.
She has to say this in English:

(a+b).(a-b)

and she needs an expression which is a shortcut of the long expression. This would be "suma por diferencia, diferencia de cuadrados" in Spanish. Is there a shortcut similar to this in English. any native speakers who remember it from their school time? Any Maths teacher out there?

Thanks!
Chus.

3 Mar 2011      





libertybelle
United States

A plus B
A minus B

3 Mar 2011     



edrodmedina
United States

I believe that would be:     a plus b     times    a minus b     or        a plus b   multiplied  by  a minus b

3 Mar 2011     



douglas
United States

"factor out the equation" perhaps

3 Mar 2011     



coyote.chus
Spain


Ooops! At least, I managed to type this properly. This is the correct version of the Maths formula. In Spanish, we say: "suma por diferencia, diferencia de cuadrados". Is there a way of saying the same in English?

Thanks!!!

3 Mar 2011     



edrodmedina
United States

a plus b times a  minus b     equals     a squared    minus b squared

3 Mar 2011     



VaneV
Costa Rica

I found this site http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/factoring.html, they called it: "common Identities" (including the "difference of squares"....)
 
I love Math Big smile

3 Mar 2011     



ldthemagicman
United Kingdom

Dear Coyote.chus,
 
The expression would be spoken as shown.
 
Expression      (a + b)(a - b)
"Expression: a plus b, multiplied by, a minus b".
Therefore        a� - ab + ab - b�
"Therefore, a squared, minus ab, plus ab, minus b squared"
Cancel out      -ab and +ab
"Cancel out, minus ab and plus ab"
Therefore        a� - b�
"Therefore, a squared, minus b squared".
 
From memory, I believe that this expression is called: "The difference of two squares".
 
I hope that this helps you.
 
Les
 

3 Mar 2011