Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.

• Oct 17th 2012, 02:59 PM
ford2008
Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
Hey guys,

The task: Determine the greatest common factor in the terms of the given expression and write each polynomial in factored form.

1.
30x^2y - 24xy^3

Greatest common factor of 30 and 24 is 6.

Factored form = 6xy (5x - 4y^2)

2.
1/2ax + 1/2bx + 1/2cx

Is the common factor 1 or 1/2???

Factored form = 1x (1/2a + 1/2b + 1/2c) or 1/2x (a+b+c) ???

Thank you.
• Oct 17th 2012, 03:22 PM
topsquark
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
Quote:

Originally Posted by ford2008
Hey guys,

The task: Determine the greatest common factor in the terms of the given expression and write each polynomial in factored form.

1.
30x^2y - 24xy^3

Greatest common factor of 30 and 24 is 6.

Factored form = 6xy (5x - 4y^2)

2.
1/2ax + 1/2bx + 1/2cx

Is the common factor 1 or 1/2???

Factored form = 1x (1/2a + 1/2b + 1/2c) or 1/2x (a+b+c) ???

Thank you.

Good job on the first problem. It is correct.

For the second one I need some feedback. Is it
$\frac{1}{2ax} + \frac{1}{2bx} + \frac{1}{2cx}$

If so, then factor what common terms are in the numerators (there are none in this case) and find the common terms for the denominator (which will be 2x).

-Dan
• Oct 17th 2012, 06:36 PM
ford2008
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
No it is ½ax + ½bx + ½cx. What is the common factor in this case? ½ or 1.
• Oct 17th 2012, 06:41 PM
MarkFL
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
Each term has the common factor ½x, so pull that out.
• Oct 17th 2012, 07:08 PM
ford2008
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
So, then in task 1 the greatest common factor should be 6xy or just 6???
• Oct 17th 2012, 07:25 PM
MarkFL
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
The greatest common factor in task 1 is 6xy.
• Oct 18th 2012, 07:32 AM
ford2008
Re: Determine greatest factor and write each polynomial in factored form.
Okay, lets say I have the expression 17x^3 -51x^2

Is the greatest common factor just 17, 17x or even 17x^2

because 17(x^3 -3x^2) = 17x^3 -51x^2

and 17x(x^2 -3x) = 17x^3 -51x^2

or 17x^2(x-3) = 17x^3 -51x^2

Which is the greatest common factor in the terms of the given expression?