Simplify $ \frac{(893 + 786)^2 - (893 - 786)^2}{893 \times 786} $
Aptitude
Number System
Difficulty: Easy
Choose an option
-
A2
-
B4
-
C8
-
D16
Answer
Correct Answer: 4
Explanation
### Concept & Formula
The expression is a direct application of the algebraic identity that relates the square of a sum and the square of a difference. By factoring it algebraically, the large numerical values become irrelevant:
$$ (a + b)^2 - (a - b)^2 = 4ab $$
### Step-by-Step Solution
* Let $a = 893$ and $b = 786$.
* Substitute these variables into the given mathematical expression:
$$ \frac{(a + b)^2 - (a - b)^2}{ab} $$
* Expand the numerator using standard binomial identities:
$$ (a^2 + b^2 + 2ab) - (a^2 + b^2 - 2ab) $$
* Distribute the negative sign and simplify the numerator:
$$ a^2 + b^2 + 2ab - a^2 - b^2 + 2ab = 4ab $$
* Substitute the simplified numerator back into the fraction:
$$ \frac{4ab}{ab} $$
* Cancel the common $ab$ terms from the numerator and denominator to get the final result:
$$ 4 $$
### Exam Strategy & Shortcut
Recognize the $\frac{(a+b)^2 - (a-b)^2}{ab}$ pattern immediately. It will ALWAYS evaluate to $4$ because the variables completely cancel out. You can solve this question in one second without even reading the specific numbers provided in the numerator and denominator.
### Common Pitfall
A common mistake is attempting to perform the actual arithmetic—adding and subtracting the numbers inside the parentheses, squaring the massive results, and then dividing. This wastes immense time and introduces a very high risk of basic calculation errors.
### Final Answer
Therefore, the correct answer is **4**.