Let's learn how to factor $x^2 - 4$! 🎉 1️⃣ Imagine you have $x^2$ like a big square box 📦 and $4$ like 4 small boxes 📦📦📦📦. 2️⃣ Notice $4$ is a perfect square because $2 \times 2 = 4$. This helps us use a special rule called "difference of squares". 3️⃣ The difference of squares rule says: $$a^2 - b^2 = (a - b)(a + b)$$ 4️⃣ Here, $a = x$ and $b = 2$. So, we write: **Box 1:** Add ➕ **Box 2:** = **Factored form:** Great! So $x^2 - 4 = (x - 2)(x + 2)$. You did awesome! 🌟