diff --git a/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares.py b/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares.py
index e5f44fc767..2b2ec94480 100644
--- a/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares.py
+++ b/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-def square_of_sum(count):
+def square_of_sum(number):
     pass
 
 
-def sum_of_squares(count):
+def sum_of_squares(number):
     pass
 
 
-def difference(count):
+def difference_of_squares(number):
     pass
diff --git a/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares_test.py b/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares_test.py
index 8c87403625..1020f8d283 100644
--- a/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares_test.py
+++ b/exercises/difference-of-squares/difference_of_squares_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import unittest
 
-from difference_of_squares import difference, square_of_sum, sum_of_squares
+from difference_of_squares import (
+    difference_of_squares,
+    square_of_sum,
+    sum_of_squares
+)
 
 
 # Tests adapted from `problem-specifications//canonical-data.json` @ v1.2.0
@@ -25,13 +29,13 @@ def test_sum_of_squares_100(self):
         self.assertEqual(sum_of_squares(100), 338350)
 
     def test_difference_of_squares_1(self):
-        self.assertEqual(difference(1), 0)
+        self.assertEqual(difference_of_squares(1), 0)
 
     def test_difference_of_squares_5(self):
-        self.assertEqual(difference(5), 170)
+        self.assertEqual(difference_of_squares(5), 170)
 
     def test_difference_of_squares_100(self):
-        self.assertEqual(difference(100), 25164150)
+        self.assertEqual(difference_of_squares(100), 25164150)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/exercises/difference-of-squares/example.py b/exercises/difference-of-squares/example.py
index 89c6a0ea25..5879a75a96 100644
--- a/exercises/difference-of-squares/example.py
+++ b/exercises/difference-of-squares/example.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-def square_of_sum(count):
-    sum_ = count * (count + 1) / 2
+def square_of_sum(number):
+    sum_ = number * (number + 1) / 2
     return sum_ * sum_
 
 
-def sum_of_squares(count):
-    return sum(m * m for m in range(count + 1))
+def sum_of_squares(number):
+    numerator = number * (number + 1) * (2 * number + 1)
+    return numerator / 6
 
 
-def difference(count):
-    return square_of_sum(count) - sum_of_squares(count)
+def difference_of_squares(number):
+    return square_of_sum(number) - sum_of_squares(number)