A quality control technician in a manufacturing plant is verifying the dimensions of a structural component. The dimensions are represented by a binomial that is a difference of two squares. To ensure the component is sized correctly, the technician must follow a standard four-step procedure to factor the expression. Arrange the following steps in the correct order to complete the factoring process.

A facilities auditor is verifying the floor space calculations for a warehouse renovation. When the auditor identifies a 'difference of squares' expression representing the remaining floor area, they must follow a standard four-step procedure to factor it correctly for the database. Match each stage of the auditing procedure with its corresponding mathematical action.

A technical writer is creating a 'Standard Operating Procedure' manual for a manufacturing company's training department. The manual includes a section on algebraic simplification for inventory calculations. According to the four-step procedure for factoring a difference of squares, what is the third step after the terms have been written as squares?

Requirements for Factoring Differences of Squares

A quality control technician is using the standard four-step procedure for factoring a difference of squares to verify the dimensions of a machined component. True or False: According to the fourth and final step of this procedure, the technician should verify the accuracy of the result by multiplying the conjugates together to ensure they produce the original binomial.

An operations analyst is documenting the standard operating procedures for a company's financial forecasting tool. The tool uses a spreadsheet formula that simplifies quadratic cost models using the standard four-step procedure for factoring differences of squares. In Step 3, after expressing the terms as squares, $(a)^2 - (b)^2$, the analyst must write the factored expression as the product of ____.