Factor 4-4a-a^2

$4 - 4 a - a^{2}$

Step 1

Reorder the expression.

Move $4$ .

$- 4 a - a^{2} + 4$

Reorder $- 4 a$ and $- a^{2}$ .

$- a^{2} - 4 a + 4$

$- a^{2} - 4 a + 4$

Step 2

Factor $- 1$ out of $- a^{2}$ .

$- (a^{2}) - 4 a + 4$

Step 3

Factor $- 1$ out of $- 4 a$ .

$- (a^{2}) - (4 a) + 4$

Step 4

Rewrite $4$ as $- 1 (- 4)$ .

$- (a^{2}) - (4 a) - 1 (- 4)$

Step 5

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (a^{2}) - (4 a)$ .

$- (a^{2} + 4 a) - 1 (- 4)$

Step 6

Factor $- 1$ out of $- (a^{2} + 4 a) - 1 (- 4)$ .

$- (a^{2} + 4 a - 4)$

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