PrerequisitesPrerequisite

Factoring a common factor

Take out the greatest numerical and letter factor shared by every term.

  • Find the greatest common factor of the coefficients.
  • For each shared letter, take the smallest power present.
  • Divide each term by the outside factor to find the parenthesis.

Example 1

Numbers and letters

Factor fully.

Example 2

Factor completely

Write the expression as a product of factors.

Remember
Expand your result to check that every original term is recovered.

Your turn

5 practice questions
Question 1

Factor fully.

Check answer
Question 2

Factor fully.

Check answer
Question 3

Factor fully.

Check answer
Question 4

Factor fully.

Check answer
Question 5

Factor fully.

Check answer
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