this is regarding what he said ingame. 9x(sq) + 24x +16 (ax+B)(cx+d) is the answer. in this: a * c = 9 b * d = 16 (a * d) + (c * B) = 24 This means: a and c must multiply to equal 9. These choices are... 3,3 9,1 So: The answer is (3x_B)(3x_d) -or- (9x_B)(x_d) Now we know that b and d must multiply to equal 16. So b and d can be: 4,4 16,1 2,8 Now we have all choices of: (3x+4)(3x+4) (3x+16)(3x+1) (3x+2)(3x+8) (9x+4)(x+4) (9x+16)(x+1) (9x+2)(x+8) (9x+1)(x+16) (9x+8)(x+2) From this we can conclude: (3x+4)(3x+4) = 9x(sq) + 24x + 16 QED