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Math0302 Factoring A Monomial From A Polynomial
Math0302 Factoring A Monomial From A Polynomial
We need to recall what the factors of a number are. The factor of a number is any number that
divides into another number evenly.
Did you realize that 1,2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 are common factors of 24 and 36?
So the Greatest Common Factor of 24 and 36 is 12.
24
2 12
24 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 = 23 × 3
2 6
2 3
36
2 18
36 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 32
2 9
3 3
24 = 23 × 3
36 = 22 × 32
22 × 3 = 12
Solution:
72
2 36
2 18 72 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 23 × 32
2 9
3 3
108
2 54
2 27 108 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 33
3 9
3 3
72 = 23 × 32
108 = 22 × 33
GCF: 22 × 32 = 36
The same process is performed when dealing with variables or groups of terms. You will look at
the variables and select the lowest power of the common variables.
Solution:
12x2y2 = 22 × 3 × x2 × y2
9xy4 = 32 × x × y4
6x2y3 = 2 × 3 × x2 × y3
12x2y2 = 22 × 3 × x2 × y2
9xy4 = 32 × x × y4
6x2y3 = 2 × 3 × x2 × y3
GCF: 2 × 3 × x × y2 = 6xy2
Solution:
6(x – 3) = 2 × 3 × (x – 3)
3x(x – 3) = 3 × x × (x – 3)
6(x – 3) = 2 × 3 × (x – 3)
3x(x – 3) = 3 × x × (x – 3)
GCF: 3 × (x – 3) = 3(x – 3)
We can now use the process of finding the GCF and the distributive property of multiplication to
factor common terms out of polynomials. The distributive property of multiplication tells us that
a(b + c) = ab + ac. We are actually using the reverse of this property when we “factor out” our
GCF from the polynomial.
Solution:
55y3 = 5 × 11 × y3
20y2 = 22 × 5 × y2
Step 2: Select the lowest power of each factor to determine our GCF
55y3 = 5 × 11 × y3
20y2 = 22 × 5 × y2
GCF: 5 × y2 = 5y2
Step 3: Rewrite each term in the polynomial as the product of the GCF and some other
factor.
Step 4: Now use the reverse of the distributive property to factor out our GCF
The GCF is placed outside the parenthesis and the remaining factors are
placed inside.