\(\text{a) }301^2\\ =\left(300+1\right)^2\\ =300^2+2\cdot300\cdot1+1^2\\ =90000+600+1\\ =90601\\ \)
\(\text{b) }499^2\\ =\left(500-1\right)^2\\ =500^2-2\cdot500\cdot1+1^2\\ =250000-1000+1\\ =249001\\ \)
\(\text{c) }68\cdot72\\ =\left(70-2\right)\left(70+2\right)\\ =70^2-2^2\\=4900-4\\ =4896\\ \)