Factoring out a GCF

Front

What is the GCF (Greatest Common Factor)?

Back

The GCF is the largest positive integer that divides all the given numbers without leaving a remainder.

Front

How do you find the GCF of two or more terms?

Back

1. List the factors of each term. 2. Identify the common factors. 3. Choose the largest common factor.

Front

Factor out the GCF: 6x + 3y

Back

3(2x + y)

Front

Factor out the GCF: 3x^3 + 9x

Back

3x(x^2 + 3)

Front

Factor: 2n^2 - 8n^3

Back

2n^2(1 - 4n)

Front

Factor out the GCF: 2x^3 + 2x^2 - 6x

Back

2x(x^2 + x - 3)

Front

What is the first step in factoring out the GCF from an expression?

Back

Identify the GCF of all the terms in the expression.

Front

Factor: 10r^3s^2 + 25r^2s^2 - 15r^2s^3

Back

5r^2s^2(2r + 5 - 3s)

Front

What does it mean to factor an expression?

Back

Factoring an expression means rewriting it as a product of its factors.

Front

Why is factoring out the GCF useful in simplifying expressions?

Back

It simplifies the expression, making it easier to work with and solve.