SOLUTION: I must not be asking my question clearly,so I'll try again.I'm just starting the chapter on factoring polynomials.The problem I'm having is recognizing when you first look at a pro

Question 108843: I must not be asking my question clearly,so I'll try again.I'm just starting the chapter on factoring polynomials.The problem I'm having is recognizing when you first look at a problem,and ask myself does this problem have a greater common factor in it or not.Can you show me some examples of some that do,and some that don't?I'm having more trouble with the ones that don't have a greater common factor.I know this should be easy,but it just hasn't clicked with me.Thanks in advance for your help.
P.S.also I thought I should mention that I'm in beginning algebra
P.S.S.I do know that 21x-7,has a greater common factor of 7 those kind I don't have problems with.
Answer by elima(1433) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi, I'll see if I cab help, I hope I understand what you are saying.
anyway;
Lets say we want find the greatest common factor of;
Lets write everything out;
6,x,x,y,y,y,m
12,x,y,y,y,y,y,m,m
now choose the greatest common from each;
the coefficients - 6
the x's, there is only one in the second term, so that is all we factor out - x
the y's we have at three in the first term and 5 in the second, so we can factor at least 3 out - y^3
the m's, we have only one in the first term so we can only factor one out - m
so we factor out;

I hope this helped some, let me Know
:)
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