# Thread: Need help with factoring.

1. ## Need help with factoring.

So the story is that I have been out of High school for about 5 years now, and I cannot for the life of me remember any of the rules for this "stuff". I have enrolled in calculus, and the prof is an extremely strict man, and flat out refuses to help me, so I am hoping somebody can jog my memory?
The question is:
(7a^2b^4)(-2a^-4b^2)
All I am being asked to do is factor which I am embarrassed to say, I am struggling with.
The part that is giving me pause is the -2. Do I need to make it positive? I just can't remember.
Any hints or clues would be a lifesaver.

2. Originally Posted by caramilkninja
So the story is that I have been out of High school for about 5 years now, and I cannot for the life of me remember any of the rules for this "stuff". I have enrolled in calculus, and the prof is an extremely strict man, and flat out refuses to help me, so I am hoping somebody can jog my memory?
The question is:
(7a^2b^4)(-2a^-4b^2)
All I am being asked to do is factor which I am embarrassed to say, I am struggling with.
The part that is giving me pause is the -2. Do I need to make it positive? I just can't remember.
Any hints or clues would be a lifesaver.
if I interpret your expression corrcetly, this is straight multiplication using the laws of exponents ...

$(7a^2b^4)(-2a^{-4}b^2) = 7(-2) \cdot a^2 \cdot a^{-4} \cdot b^4 \cdot b^2 = -14a^{-2}b^6 = -\frac{14b^6}{a^2}$

... not factoring.

3. Originally Posted by skeeter
if I interpret your expression corrcetly, this is straight multiplication using the laws of exponents ...

$(7a^2b^4)(-2a^{-4}b^2) = 7(-2) \cdot a^2 \cdot a^{-4} \cdot b^4 \cdot b^2 = -14a^{-2}b^6 = -\frac{14b^6}{a^2}$

... not factoring.
Dear god...
Staring at this stuff remembering bits and pieces, and feeling even more like a moron.
Thanks.