A) 988,036 B) 990,000 C) 995,988 D) 996,000 E) 1,000,000 This is a difference of squares. The formula for 2 numbers a and b is: a^2 - b^2 = (a + b)(a - b) In our problem, we have a = 998 and b = 2: 998^2 – 2^2 = (998 + 2)(998 - 2) 998^2 – 2^2 = 1000(996) Multiplying by 1000 means we move the decimal place of the other number 3 places to the right: 998^2 – 2^2 = 996,000 or Answer D
