Carcass wrote:
\((3^2+1)(81^2+1)(9^2+1)(3^2−1)=\)
A. \(81^4+1\)
B. \(9^9−1\)
C. \(3^{16}−1\)
D. \(3^{32}−1\)
E. \(3^{96}+1\)
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITIONGRE - Math BookThis question tests our ability to recognize a potential
difference of squares.
That is:
(a + b)(a - b) = a² - b²(3² + 1)(81² + 1)(9² + 1)(3² − 1) =
(3² + 1)(3² − 1)(9² + 1)(81² + 1)
=
(9 + 1)(9 − 1)(9² + 1)(81² + 1)
=
(9² − 1)(9² + 1)(81² + 1)
= (81 - 1)(81 + 1)(81² + 1)
= (81² - 1)(81² + 1)
= 81⁴ - 1
Check the answer choices......81⁴ - 1 is not among the answer choices. We'll have to REWRITE our answer...
81⁴ - 1 =
(3⁴)⁴ - 1
= 3¹⁶ - 1
Answer: C