Mathematics 8

Factoring by Greatest
Common Monomial
Factor
8-Eel, 8- Goby, 8- Grouper,
8-Milkfish, 8-Mullet, 8-Siganid
Mrs. Rochelle DG. Zarate
Subject Teacher
 Factoring by
Greatest Common
Monomial Factor
At the end of our lesson, you will be able to…
• Factor by Greatest Common Monomial
Factor
 Recall
Factor is a number or algebraic expression that
divides another number or expressions evenly,
that is with no remainder.

Examples:
1. The factors of 4 are 1, 2, and 4 as these can divide 4 evenly.
2. The factors of 2x2 are 1, 2, x, x2, 2x, 2x2 as these can divide
2x2 evenly.
Example 1 Find the GCF of each pair of
monomials.
Solution: a. 4x 3
and 8x2
Step 1: Factor each monomial
4x3 = 2 . 2 . x . x . x
8x2 = 2 . 2 . 2 . x . x
Step 2: Identify the common factors
4x3 = 2 . 2 . x . x . x
8x2 = 2 . 2 . 2 . x . x
Step 3: Find the product of the common factors
2 . 2 . x . x = 4x2
Hence, 4x2 is the GCMF of 4x3 and 8x2.
b. 15y6 and 9z
Step 1: Factor each monomial
15y6 = 3 . 5 . y . y . y. y. y. y
9z = 3 . 3 . z
Step 2: Identify the common factors
15y6 = 3 . 5 . y . y . y. y. y. y
9z = 3 . 3 . z
Step 3: Find the product of the common factors.
Note that 3 is the only common factor.
Hence, 3 is the GCMF of 15y6 and 9z
Example 2. Write 6x + 3x2 in factored form.
Step 1: Determine the number of terms. In the given expression, we have 2
terms 6x and 3x2
Step 2: Determine the GCF of the numerical coefficients.
coefficient factors Common factors GCF
3 1, 3 1, 3 3
6 1, 2, 3
Step 2. Determine the GCF of the variables. The GCF of the variables is the one with the
1, 3 least exponent.
GCF (x, x2) = x
Step 3. Find the product of GCF of the numerical coefficient and the variables.
(3) (x) = 3x
Hence, 3x is the GCMF of 6x and 3x2.
Example 3. Write 12x3y5 – 20x5y2z in complete factored
form.
Step 1: Determine the number of terms.
There are two terms in the given expression 12x3y5 – 20x5y2z, 12x3y5 and 20x5y2z.
Step 2: Determine the GCF of the numerical coefficients.
coefficient factors Common factors GCF
12 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
1, 2, 4 4
20 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 20
Step 2. Determine the GCF of the variables. The GCF of the variables is the one with the
1, 3 least exponent and is common to every term.
GCF (x3 y5, x5 y2 z) = x3y2
Step 3. Find the product of GCF of the numerical coefficient and the variables.
4 . x 3 y 2 = 4 x 3 y2
This means that, 4 x3 y2 is the GCMF of the two terms 12x3y5 and 20x5y2z
Step 4: Find the other factor, by dividing each term of the polynomial
12x3y5 – 20x5y2z by the GCMF 4 x3 y2.
12 𝑥 3 𝑦 5 20 𝑥 5 𝑦 2 𝑧
3 2 - 3 2
4𝑥 𝑦 4𝑥 𝑦

Step 5: Write the complete factored form.

12x3y5 – 20x5y2z = 4x3y2 (3y3 – 5x2z)
Example 4. Write 12x3 – 18xy + 24x in complete factored form.
Step 1: Determine the number of terms.
There are three terms in the expression 12x3 – 18xy + 24x: 12x3, 18xy, 24x
Step 2: Determine the GCF of the numerical coefficients.

coefficient factors Common factors GCF

12 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
18 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 18 1, 2, 3, 6 6
1, 3
24 1,2,3,4, 6, 8, 12, 24

Step 2. Determine the GCF of the variables. The GCF of the variables is the one with the
least exponent and is common to every term.
GCF (x3 , xy, x) = x
Step 3: Find the product of GCF of the numerical coefficient and the
variables. (6) (x) = 6x
Hence, 6x is the GCMF of 12x3, 18xy, 24x.
Step 4: Find the other factor, by dividing each term of the polynomial
12x3 – 18xy + 24x by the GCMF 6x.
12 𝑥 3 18 𝑥𝑦 24 𝑥
- +
6𝑥 6𝑥 6𝑥

Step 5: Write the complete

form. 12x3 – 18xy + 24x = 6x (2x2 – 3y + 4)
SEE YOU IN OUR NEXT LESSON!