You took out only a numerical factor , when you should have factored out an as well. That is, you should have factored out , not just The complete factorization is: What you did was not mathematically incorrect, it just was not complete because the expression inside the parentheses, in red below, can also be factored: You can factor out an from inside the parentheses, like this: and then take away the black parentheses: and so you end up with the right answer. But it's better to take out to begin with. Then it's only one step. Edwin