<s>[INST] Factor the Expression completely$ (a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2$ I don't understand this question. The answer in the book is $4ab$, but how is that term a factor?
I was thinking along the line that this was a difference of squares example. $a^2-b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$
My answer is $[(a+b)-(a-b)][(a+b)+(a-b)]$
What do I not understand?  
 [/INST] $$(a + b)^2 - (a-b)^2 = (a+b)(a+b) - (a+b)(a-b) $$ $$= (a+b)((a+b) - (a - b)) $$ $$ = (a + b)(a + b - a + b) $$ $$= (a+b)(2b)$$
POST EDIT: $$(a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2 = a^2 +2ab + b^2 -(a^2 - 2ab + b^2) = 2ab - (-2ab) = 4ab$$
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