Understanding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of Polynomials

What is the first step in finding the GCF of a polynomial?

• Find the GCF of the constants

• Multiply all terms together

• Identify the polynomial as a binomial or trinomial

• Find the GCF of the variables

Which of the following is the greatest common factor of the constants 3, 9, and 12?

• 1

• 3

• 6

• 9

What is the GCF of the variables in the polynomial 3x^4 - 9x^2 - 12x?

• 1

• x^4

• x^2

• x

How do you determine the GCF of the variables in a polynomial?

• By multiplying the variables together

• By finding the lowest power of the variable present in all terms

• By adding the exponents of the variables

• By dividing the highest power of the variable by the lowest

What is the overall GCF of the polynomial 3x^4 - 9x^2 - 12x?

• 3x

• x

• 3

• 9x