Evaluate: \(\dfrac{3.8^2 - 1.2^2}{3.8 - 1.2}\)
Answer: D
The numerator is a difference of two squares, so it factorises and the denominator cancels - no squaring is needed at all.
\[ \frac{a^{2}-b^{2}}{a-b} = \frac{(a+b)(a-b)}{a-b} = a+b \]
With \( a = 3.8 \) and \( b = 1.2 \):
\[ \frac{3.8^{2}-1.2^{2}}{3.8-1.2} = 3.8 + 1.2 = 5 \]
Checking the long way: \( 14.44 - 1.44 = 13 \) and \( 13 \div 2.6 = 5 \).
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